Construction will begin May 19 along a section of Willamette Street in Eugene. It’s an effort to make travel easier going both directions between South Eugene and Downtown.
The following areas will be repaved and converted to two-ways:
- Willamette Street from 18th to 20th
- Oak Street from 20th to 19th
- 20th Avenue from Willamette to Oak Street.
The project is expected to carry on throughout July and will bring an end to what’s known as the “Willamette Wiggle” said Senior Transportation Manager Reed Dunbar. The change will allow people, no matter their preferred mode of transport, easier access, he said. The city will add bike lanes in both directions on a segment of Willamette.
"It’s also going to improve the crossing of Willamette Street near the Civic Stadium area, which is going to make it easier for folks to walk to if they need to get to Kids Sports, for example, and to be able to walk to South Eugene High School,” Dunbar said.
In addition, the city will also work on replacing a traffic signal at Willamette Street and 18th Avenue, reconstruction of sidewalk access ramps will take place throughout the project as well as construction on the northbound bike lane on Willamette Street from 18th to 20th Avenues. Meanwhile the bike lane on Oak Street, from 20th to 17th will be removed, according to the city.
"There's going to be some detours set up through the constuction zone, in other words, we would probably do one side of the street at a time so there might be one lane open in one direction," Dunbar said. He suggests drivers use Amazon Parkway if they don’t need to access Willamette Street.
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