Work Continues on Phase 2 of Courthouse District Improvements
The second phase of construction to improve transportation facilities in the new federal courthouse district continues, with substantial completion on schedule for fall 2008. The project is a cooperative effort involving the City of Eugene and the Oregon Department of Transportation. Wildish Construction Co. of Eugene is the general contractor on the $4 million project.
The second phase work includes reconstructing Eighth Avenue between Ferry and Hilyard streets and building a new section of Hilyard Street running next to the Union Pacific Railroad from Ferry Street to Broadway. Those roadways are scheduled to be open by late April 2008, including an upgraded traffic signal at Broadway and Hilyard.
The goal of the Hilyard bypass route is to take much of the westbound through traffic off Mill Street (Highway 99). Once that has been accomplished, the work will shift to completing a signalized intersection at Eighth Avenue and Mill Street, improving the connection between downtown and the new courthouse district for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles and improving access to the riverbank trail system.
The project also includes repaving portions of Franklin Boulevard, Broadway, Seventh Avenue, the Ferry Street viaduct offramps and Mill Street. Other features of this phase include amenities such as wider sidewalks, a pedestrian/bicycle path parallel to the railroad tracks, reconstructed driveways, pedestrian crosswalks, decorative streetlights, landscaping, stormwater swales and on-street parking.
During the Olympic Trials, from late June to early July, all streets in the courthouse area will be fully operational, and no construction delays are anticipated. In general, however, motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes or plan for extra travel time to avoid construction delays until the project is finished.
The bulk of the funding for the second phase improvements will come from federal highway funds. Additional project funding is coming from Lane County and from Eugene’s downtown urban renewal district. There will be no direct assessments to property owners.
The first phase of the courthouse district street improvements was completed in September 2006. The first phase included improving Eighth Avenue between Mill and Ferry streets and Mill Street from Broadway to Eighth Avenue, constructing new roadways on the east and north sides of the new courthouse, and installing wider sidewalks, decorative streetlights, landscaping, stormwater swales and onstreet parking.
Much of the construction in phase two will affect primarily those streets within the courthouse district. The City is working closely with residents, businesses, and property owners in the district to minimize inconveniences and disruptions during construction. Traffic impacts and delays are to be expected on Franklin, Broadway and Mill Street when curbs, sidewalks, traffic signals and new asphalt paving are being constructed. Signs and flaggers will direct traffic in the construction zones. Traffic updates will be provided at www.eugene-or.gov/traffic and on the metro road work hotline, 984-8484.
