Market Boulevard to close at railroad crossing starting July 6, city official says

Charlie Holly, the city's public works director and city engineer, said he was providing an update on the Market Boulevard reconstruction project and that phase 2 will begin Monday, July 6.

Holly said, "Phase 2 is the heaviest lift of the project," and that crews will close Market Boulevard from Market Street South to West 79th Street — the area around the railroad tracks — to install underground utilities and widen the road at the railroad crossing. He also said the work includes building a downtown water reuse pump station.

The update said phase 1 work is complete and open to traffic; crews replaced the water main and repaved the section near the post office and the fire station (noted in the transcript as "Chan View") and repaved the south side of Market between 5th and 79th streets. Holly noted one block — the stretch between Jimmy John's and Wendy's — did not finish in phase 1 because of underground utility conflicts and will be pushed to phase 3, which Holly said will not begin until after Labor Day.

Holly described alternate access during the phase 2 closure: drivers will be able to reach Market Boulevard from the north at 78th Street down to the Jimmy John's/Wendy's area and from the south from Highway 5 to West 79th Street. He said the closure is expected to last "until around Labor Day." The transcript gives the start date as "Monday, July 6" but does not specify the year.

Holly thanked the public for their patience and said the improvements will include increased access, better pedestrian mobility and reconstruction of physical assets. He said staff will provide updates and intends to publish another video in late August as the project transitions from phase 2 to phase 3.