Residents learned more about the Grand Street bridge project at an open house 5-7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 in the community room at Fire Station No. 8, 1405 S. Scenic Avenue.
[pullquote]Construction for the Grand Street bridge project is estimated to begin by fall, with completion by spring 2018. The current estimated project cost is $2.5 million and will be funded by the 1/8-cent transportation sales tax.[/pullquote]
Springfield voters chose the Grand Street bridge project as their No. 1 priority in a 2015 City transportation survey, which was conducted as a precursor to the April 2016 1/8-cent transportation and 1/4-cent capital improvement sales tax ballot issues. Both taxes were renewed with more than 85 percent of voter support.
The Grand Street project involves the widening of Grand Street to three lanes from Kansas Expressway to Park Avenue. It will include a center turn lane, upgraded stormwater infrastructure, an improved railroad crossing and a new bridge over Jordan Creek. The area, widely used by pedestrians, will include a new sidewalk on the south side of Grand Street and a multi-use path on the north side that will tie into the existing greenway trail system.
Planned intersection improvements by MoDOT at Kansas Expressway and Grand Street will further enhance pedestrian safety and connectivity along Grand. Button-activated crosswalks that integrate with the existing signals are planned for installation in summer 2017.
Attendees of the open house will have the opportunity to learn more about construction plans, see visuals of the proposed project, and ask questions. There will be no formal presentation.