The City is hopeful that planned traffic improvements at Cherry Street and Pickwick Avenue will be under construction before summer, following minor delays due to utility work.
While coordinating with City Utilities on the project design, it was determined that gas and water lines located along Cherry Street between Fremont Avenue and the railroad tracks need to be replaced. Water lines in the area date back to 1894.
“This is a growing area and just as we’re needing to make improvements to the roadway, the utilities also need to be updated to help support this growth,” explains Public Works Project Manager Derrick Estell. “We would hate to have to cut into a brand new sidewalk to fix something we know is on City Utilities list to be fixed anyway.”
Estell is hopeful the utility work can be completed early in the year, only delaying the roadway project by a few months. The project is anticipated to be out for bid by February, with construction beginning in late Spring.
About the Cherry and Pickwick Intersection and Traffic Calming Project
Planned improvements along Cherry Street will stretch from Fremont Avenue to the west and the railroad crossing to the east. The project design includes the construction of various “bulb-outs,” or extensions of the curbline into the roadway. These modifications will serve to visually and physically narrow the street, forcing traffic to slow down while also reducing the crossing distance for pedestrians and providing additional greenspace.
“Cherry Street serves as a busy secondary arterial in our roadway network,” explains Public Works project manager Derrick Estell. “The goals of this project include slowing down traffic along Cherry Street, creating a safer and more inviting environment for pedestrians and contributing to the area’s sense of place through aesthetic design features and landscaping.”
The installation of three crosswalks in the area will further signal to motorists that they are entering a pedestrian friendly area and they should slow down and use caution.
The Cherry and Pickwick Intersection and Traffic Calming Project is estimated to cost approximately $150,000 and will be funded through the 1/8-cent Transportation Sales Tax Alternative Transportation program.
For more information, visit the project website at springfieldmo.gov/cherryandpickwick.