Construction on the South Willamette Street Improvement Project in the Friendly Area Neighborhood will get underway on February 1. The project includes the widening of Willamette Street north of 24th and 29th avenues, a new traffic signal at the Woodfield Station driveway north of 29th Avenue, and a pilot study to restripe the street.
Once completed, Willamette Street will be three lanes in each direction from 24th to 29th Avenues with one travel lane in each direction, a center turn lane, and bicycle lanes on both sides of the street. In the vicinity of 29th Avenue, the restriping study will include two southbound lanes, as well as the other changes.
Daytime traffic impacts are expected to be minimal, but may include some lane shifts or partial closures. A portion of the work will be completed at night. Businesses in the area have been notified about the upcoming work and access will be maintained during business hours. Drivers are urged to use caution as the work progresses.
“While access to businesses will remain open, people traveling through the corridor could expect some occasional delays during construction,” said Chris Henry, Transportation Planning Engineer for the City of Eugene.
Contracted construction costs for the improvement are $743,232, with funding coming primarily from transportation system development charges. Costs of monitoring the pilot study are $150,000.
Brown Construction plans to have all of the work, including the restriping, completed by mid-April, weather permitting. Following the yearlong pilot study, staff will report back to the Eugene City Council with an evaluation, likely in the summer of 2017.
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