Roadwork will continue throughout the summer and fall for the Primrose Street Widening Project. Currently construction crews are finishing utility work and construction of the new stormwater conveyance system has started on the project. The extension of the box culvert west of South Avenue has been completed. Throughout the next several months, crews will begin excavation for the new roadway, mainly north of the existing road.
Traffic impacts will include lane closures throughout the duration of the project. Once traffic is reduced to two lanes, there will not be a center turn lane for traffic to use for left turns. Overnight closures along the corridor will occur and may be frequent during stages of construction. There will be temporary closures of South Avenue and Jefferson Avenue, both north and south of Primrose at certain stages of construction as well. Access to all businesses and residences will remain throughout the project, but a different route may be required when the roadways are closed. Lindell Avenue may experience temporary closures similar to Jefferson Avenue and South Avenue during certain stages of construction.
The project, the last phase in a series of improvement projects aimed at reducing traffic congestion through the busy southwest Springfield corridor, began in the spring.
The project includes widening Primrose Street to five lanes between South Avenue and Kimbrough Avenue, adding bike lanes on both sides of the roadway, constructing Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant sidewalks and installing new traffic signals at Jefferson Avenue and Primrose Street. Also involved is the construction of new City Utilities gas and water facilities and the installation of a sewer main to provide service to Kickapoo High School’s athletic facilities.
The project is expected to be complete in late fall.
Utilities improvements involved in the project will be reimbursed by City Utilities, with sanitary sewer improvements being funded by Springfield Public Schools. The remaining costs for the project will be funded through the City’s voter-approved 1/4-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax. The contractor is Hartman & Company.
As construction begins, please use caution while traveling through the project area and expect possible delays.