CC Newsletter - 03/17/05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Clarke, transportation options coordinator, at 682-5285. Bids Opened for Phase 1 of Courthouse District Transportation Improvements Eugene's Courthouse District has gone from a vision to a work ........................... in progress. Construction of the new Wayne Morse Federal Courthouse began last fall, and the first phase of street improvements is expected to start in late April or early May and be completed by fall 2006, when the courthouse is expected to open. Bids for the first phase of street work were opened March 10 by the Oregon Department of Transportation; Eugene Sand & Gravel submitted the apparent Iow bid of $1.17 million for the job. The first phase of street construction will improve the transportation system immediately adjacent to the courthouse site. Elements include improving 8th Avenue between Ferry and Mill streets, extending 6th Avenue from Mill Street to the east approximately 500 feet, extending Ferry Street from 8th Avenue north to intersect with the easterly end of the 6th Avenue extension, and providing amenities such as wider sidewalks, reconstructed driveways, decorative streetlights, landscaping, stormwater swales and on-street parking. Future phases will include improving 6th Avenue between Mill and High streets and extending 6th Avenue further to the east to connect to Hilyard Street and become westbound Highway 99W. The ultimate goal of the Courthouse District transportation improvements is to "unbraid" the large volume of traffic that currently flows along Highway 99/Franklin Boulevard/Mill Street. This will allow through-traffic to move more efficiently through the downtown area and make it easier for pedestrians, bicyclists and local traffic to travel to the courthouse, the Willamette River, and other downtown destinations. The work being done in the first-phase project is designed to accommodate future projects still in the conceptual development stage. The Phase 1 project is funded primarily by the Federal Highway Administration, with additional project funding from Lane County and from Eugene's downtown urban renewal district. The construction work is a cooperative effort involving the City of Eugene and the Oregon Department of Transportation, with technical assistance from OBEC Consulting Engineers, CH2M Hill, and DKS Associates, Heritage Research Associates and Dave Reinhard Engineering. The Public Works Engineering Division is working closely with residents, utilities, businesses, and property owners in the Courthouse District to minimize inconveniences and disruptions during construction. Coordination requirements with the courthouse building contractor, JE Dunn, are included in the street contract documents. A fact sheet has been developed for the project, and postcards were mailed this week to approximately 180 residents, property owners, affected businesses, and other interested parties. For more information, contact Project Manager Joe Ramirez, Eugene Public Works, 682-5228. Northwest Youth Corps Crew Builds New Fence at Washburne Park In early March, a crew of teens from Northwest Youth Corps replaced an old, dilapidated fence along 21st Avenue in Washbume Park. The new fence is a split-rail style and was constructed out of recycled cedar telephone poles from the 1940s. The telephone poles were purchased from Recycled Wood Products, an Albany company that recycles old telephone poles and other logs. Northwest Youth Corps offered the City a very reasonable rate for their services, and, in addition, volunteered some of their time to put the finishing touches on the job. EUGENE CITY COUNCIL NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 March 17, 2005