Starting today, traffic near Roosevelt Boulevard and Highway 99 on Eugene’s northwest side will be disrupted for at least a couple weeks. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.
(B. BULL NEAR ROAD) “Here on Highway 99, there’s a pretty steady flow of traffic, making it very dangerous for people to cross. Especially for those who’ve recently settled into a homeless encampment across the way here. But the City of Eugene has plans in place now to make a pedestrian crossing that advocates say will make it safer and more accessible.”
“It will absolutely improve safety and accessibility," says Roxann O'Brien. She's Director of St. Vincent de Paul's Lindholm Service Center.
"Y’know, we’ve been in this building since 1999, and we’ve had three people killed crossing the street.”
O’Brien says the need for a temporary pedestrian crossing is greater now that 115 homeless tenants have moved into what’s called Camp 99 across the way.
“We have many people with walkers and wheelchairs, it’s just absolutely a big safety issue. So we’re thrilled to death about this.”
Construction is expected to finish December 17th, with work on a permanent crossing starting in 2020.
Brian Richardson of Eugene Public Works says the $29,300 project will improve safety for many, including those residing in Camp 99. The facility is near services such as St. Vinnie’s.
“Those social services and that camp are on opposite sides of the highway there. And so the direct line is further away from a crosswalk," Richardson tells KLCC. "We got the planning underway, with the goal of trying to make the roads safer for those crossing to social services on the other side of the highway. That’s really why we’re doing this right now.”
Richardson says drivers should expect lane closures and watch for road crews in the next few weeks.
Copyright 2018, KLCC.
