City traffic engineer briefs Planning Commission on progress of major road projects

City traffic engineer Susan Barry told the Planning Commission on Oct. 9 that construction timelines for several major street projects are progressing and that some segments should open soon.

Barry said much recent work on Third Street consisted of underground utility relocation and that "we just started construction of the actual Third Street project this year, and that's scheduled to be done Nov. 14." She added that the Sampson bridge project is "very close" to opening and that the Prior Road project is a two-season effort intended to continue into next year, with hopes to open a portion before winter.

Commissioners and members of the public had asked why some projects are taking longer than expected. Barry explained the phased nature of utility versus roadway work and noted that Colburn Road from Douglas to 350 is "about to open within a month." She said Shearer Road design work has begun after the city hired a consultant and that design will take roughly a year before construction begins; Shear Parkway remains a future project and would be a main multi-lane corridor when developed.

The commission also heard praise from a commissioner and a resident for the public-works department’s responsiveness to inquiries about project status and for outreach provided to neighborhood groups regarding safety improvements such as planned traffic signals.

Why it matters: Construction timing affects residents’ travel and local businesses. The update answered public inquiries about phased work, utility relocation, and scheduling for multi-season projects.

The commission noted the joint Planning Commission–City Council meeting date was tentatively moved from Dec. 9 to February for agenda management and staff will provide contact information for commission members for project follow-up.