Lane restrictions, construction on hold until clear weather

The Time Corners traffic improvement project is temporarily on hold as the City and its contractor wait for improved weather. This project will involve the intersections of Jefferson Boulevard and Getz and Covington roads.

“We are trying to get this project started as early as possible this spring, but felt the pending weather conditions warrants a slight delay in our construction schedule,” said Public Works Director Bob Kennedy. “We will make sure drivers are aware when the construction and lane restriction will start.”

The start date has not been determined, although the order of the multiphase construction project will remain the same. City Engineer Dave Ross said the Oct. 25 completion date should remain the same because weather delays were built into the project'€™s schedule.

 

The first phase will restrict westbound traffic on Jefferson to one lane. Eastbound traffic on Jefferson will be maintained two through lanes. The City'€™s Traffic Engineering Department will provide updates to traffic pattern modifications throughout the project.

The realignment of intersections and turn lanes will ultimately improve traffic flow, although drivers will have to get accustomed to new traffic patterns, said Public Works Director Bob Kennedy.

There are five areas of concentration for improvement:
1. Realigning the intersection of Jefferson Boulevard and Covington Road, making the section of Covington Road between Jefferson and Getz Road two-way.
2. Reconfiguring the existing Jefferson entrance to Time Corners shopping center for only a right-turn entrance from Jefferson.
3. Adding a shopping center new entrance east of the current one with a traffic signal allowing for both right- and left-turn entrances from Jefferson.
4. Eliminating the left turn from southbound Getz to Jefferson by allowing drivers to use the new two-way Covington Road to Jefferson. Both directions of Jefferson will also have reconstructed left-turn lanes onto Getz.
5. At the intersection of Getz and Covington, Getz will have two through lanes and a left-turn lane in each direction. There will be no left turn from westbound Covington onto Getz, but it will have a dedicated right-turn lane.

Other parts of the project include new street lighting, curb and gutter improvements and replacing the grass median on Jefferson with a curbed median with grass in the middle. A new sidewalk on the east side of Getz from Wilkie Drive to the Time Corners entrance will also be added. Traffic signals will be updated to the new traffic patterns.