Two-way traffic has reopened on Hillcrest Drive south of Shawnee Avenue — with speed reduction limits in place to help ensure the safety of workers and motorists in the area, Director of Engineering Micah Siemers said late Monday.
Traffic was detoured over the past two weeks in the area as contractor crews completed drainage work needed to facilitate the Hillcrest Drive Reconstruction Project, a $2.2 million project that involves reconstructing Hillcrest Drive from the Caney River to just north of 20th Street. The new roadway will consist of two 12-foot-wide drive lanes with six-foot-wide asphalt shoulders. Turn lanes will be provided at Shawnee and 20th Street, and a pedestrian path in the area will be provided by maintaining some of the existing roadway.
“The contractor has completed the drainage portion of the project that prompted lane closures over the past couple of weeks, so lanes south of Shawnee Avenue are open to through traffic as of Monday afternoon,” Siemers said. “The intersection at 20th Street and the stretch of Hillcrest Drive between 20th Street and Shawnee Avenue will remain closed with traffic detoured to Shawnee via 16th Street for a large portion of the project before it is opened up to move traffic to the new roadway alignment while we close the Shawnee intersection. This will allow the contractor to extend Shawnee to the new roadway. Some additional lane closures may be necessary as the project progresses, but every effort will be made to keep lanes open as much as possible.”
Even with the open lanes of traffic and detours in place, Siemers said avoiding the area altogether is optimal.
“While Hillcrest will be open to traffic with detours, we are still encouraging citizens to take alternate routes if possible to avoid the construction zone,” he said.
Anyone who opts for the project area should be aware that speed reductions are in place — down to 30 mph — that will be strictly enforced, Siemers said.
“We’ve had issues with motorists speeding in the area since the project started a few weeks ago,” he said. “It is vitally important that everyone slow down in these areas, both on Hillcrest Drive and on the detour streets.”
The Hillcrest Drive Reconstruction Project was approved by voters in the 2013 Half-cent Capital Improvement Project election. Construction is expected to take close to a full year to complete.