Eugene's Newest Street Has Deep Roots in Local History

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I i s ~ ~ ~ December 8 2005 CONTACT: Steve Gallup, Project Manager, 682-8460 From Public Information Section, 682-5523 or 954-2938 ' FOR IMME IATE RELEASE Eugene's Newest Street Has Deep Roots in Local History A str et rich in local history, connecting Lincoln and Pearl streets on the north side of the railroad trac s in downtown Eugene, is scheduled to reopen at noon on Monday, Dec. 12, as a fully improv d roadway. The adly deteriorated east-west route, which runs from Fourth Avenue and Pearl Street on the east o Third Avenue and Lincoln Street on the west, has been closed to through traffic for almost f ur months to allow the City and its project contractor, Delta Construction Co., to j upgrade th street to create safer traveling conditions for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists. The $1.8 mi lion Public Works project also realigned the intersections at each end of the connector t further improve traveling safety. P f The finished project includes a 32-foot wide concrete roadway with two travel lanes, j landscaped medians, bicycle lanes, curb and gutter, sidewalks, colored and stamped concrete median tips street lights, street trees, traffic calming, and stormwater drainage facilities. The hiteaker Area Refinement Plan provided guidelines for the street project, including a recomme dation that the street name recognize the historical significance of the area. That recommen ation is supported by members of the Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House, which was built in 1888 adjacent to the connector street. Eug ne's newest street is also one of the city's oldest routes. Photos from 1890 show an access pat serving the granaries and lumber yards next to the railroad tracks. The growth of the railroad the opening of a new train depot in 1908 and the construction of the Oregon Electric Pa senger Station and Freight Depot in 1925 added vigor to the north downtown area and the str et that served the properties on the north side of the tracks. As businesses flourished n the north side of the tracks, the dirt lane evolved into a narrow paved roadway. However, ver the years, the street and the surrounding area fell into disrepair. Now the area is being reno ated, and the improved street leads to the future as much as the past. "To ay, the revitalized street provides a safer route for all those who use it," said City Engineer ark Schoening. "In the years to come, it will also play an important role in connecting the newly renovated depot, the restored Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House, Skinner B e, and other neighborhood landmarks." Publ c Works • Administration • City of Eugene • 858 Pearl Street • Eugene, OR 97401 Phone: (541) 682-5262 • FAX: (541 } 682-6826 • www.ci.eugene.or.us