SPRINGFIELD – City leaders are partnering with county and state traffic officials to address reports that consistently show that parts of Main Street are considered ”one of the most unsafe city streets in Oregon.”
The specific area of focus is Main Street between 20th and 72nd streets, where data confirmed a high number of accidents, injuries and property damage related to car crashes along that stretch.
The Oregon Department of Transportation and Lane Transit District are the other agencies helping the city address the traffic issues, as part of an effort to make Main Street safer.
The project is in the planning phase, and the city is letting residents and business owners know that their driveways could be affected by the work. The city sent out 617 letters last week stating that specific changes to driveways isn’t part of the plan, but ”it is possible during the design and construction phases that driveways may be considered for modification, relocation or closure.”
Implementation of the plan is scheduled to start in 2023 or later, depending upon available money.
Additional safety efforts along this section of Main Street have included the installation of six Rapid Flashing Beacon Crossings on Main Street. These are located at 35th, 41st, 44th, 48th and 51st streets as well as Chapman Lane.
A seventh such crossing is being installed at the intersection of Main Street near 66th Street. These crossings were implemented as part of recommendations made by a pedestrian safety study in 2010.
