Even though school’s out, Parkview High School commuters, as well as those who live and drive through Springfield’s Fassnight neighborhood can add Grant Avenue back to their route.
With the near-completion of construction on Section 2 of the Grant Avenue Parkway, two-way traffic has returned to Grant Avenue between Sunshine Street and Meadowmere Street. Some additional improvements still need to be made on that stretch of Grant, which will prompt short, intermittent road closures, but the heavy lifting is done as the project moves north to Sections 3 and 4.
Project manager Leree Reese expects a construction lull as the City of Springfield acquires easements for properties in the new sections of focus. She said the project is, overall, moving along “really well.”
Timeline still murky, with easements an “unknown”
While the contract for the design-build team is for the summer of 2024, specific target dates are hard to establish due to the nature of the project delivery method.
“This project is being done a little bit differently than any other projects we've done before,” said Kristem Milan, a communication coordinator for the city.
This is the first design-build project the City of Springfield has ever done, according to Reese. Because of the scope of the project, this method has allowed the city to dissect it into sections. While the contractor does construction work in one section, the city is able to move forward with right-of-way easements at properties in the next section.
Acquiring construction easements, many of which are temporary, can often be an “unknown.”
“In some places that's really gone quickly, and in other places it just takes a little bit more time to even reach a property owner in some cases,” Milam said. “So it's hard for us to say when we will 100-percent move to the next phase.”
Additionally, the sheer number of property owners the city has to come to agreements with, which Reese approximated to be 150, contributes to the difficulty in establishing a more exact timeline.
From one section to another
At Meadowmere, northbound drivers will be detoured to Campbell Avenue as utility work is being done in Section 3 and 4, which stretches from Catalpa Street to State Street.
After the utility work is completed, Reese expects a “lull in major construction here for a while” as the city continues to collect right-of-way access. Once easements are acquired, major roadway improvements will begin on a significant portion of Grant.
Section 3, which extends from Catalpa to Grand Street, is expected to continue into fall of 2023.
Sections 5 and 6 however, are yet to have target start dates. Section 5 is along Grant from State to Walnut Street, and Section 6 is the “downtown loop.” The loop won’t entail the same intensity of construction and lane closures as Grant Avenue itself, but may feature flagged lanes as new pavement markings are being made.
Section 2 is mostly completed and is currently open to two-way traffic, but outstanding work on that portion of Grant remains. Utility poles need to come down, and the top asphalt surface needs to be laid. That overlay will result in brief road closures likely by the block, but Reese said it should move “pretty quickly.”
Landscaping will follow completion of the roadway, and placemaking elements are set to be installed closer to the overall completion of the project.
