Published September 17, 2012
How do I get on a list for other road construction project updates?
Send Trish Herron an e-mail and you will be placed on an e-mail distribution list for all road projects in the City of Richland.

Published September 7, 2012
What should we expect during the paving?
There will be noise and vibrations as the machines make multiple trips up and down GWW. The current plan is to start in the area nearest the residential homes in an effort to be done in that area first. Please note, there will be vibrations and to take necessary precautions if you have unsecured breakables that may move as the machines make their passes.

Will there be local access available during the closures for paving?
Only vehicles working on the project will be allowed on GWW during the paving timeframes, because of safety concerns and the temperature of the asphalt. Residents from the Gowen Avenue area will be allowed past the Williams Boulevard barricade for access into their homes. If you own a business and plan to close prior to 8:00 PM for your customers, but your employees may be at your business past 8:00 PM, then they will need to park in a location that does not rely on GWW as the only outlet. There are multiple City parking lots within a short distance of businesses for employees to use. The September 12th evening work should only impacts the side approaches for a limited time and should not impact residential or business access.

Why is landscaping restoration one of the last items finalized?
The main driver for landscaping restoration occurring at the end of a project is the weather. Plantings have a higher retention rate when planted in cooler weather compared to those planted in peak summer temperatures.

Published August 31, 2012
How will the road closure work for the paving schedule? Can my employees use the road to leave my business after 8:00 PM?
Only vehicles working on the project will be allowed on GWW during the paving timeframes, because of safety concerns and the temperature of the asphalt. If you own a business and plan to close prior to 8:00 PM for your customers, but your employees may be at your business past 8:00 PM, then they will need to park in a location that does not rely on GWW as the only outlet. The September 12th evening work should only impacts the side approaches for a limited time and should not impact business access.

Will there still be orange cones after paving is complete?
Yes, there will be remaining items that need to be completed before the Contactor, and their orange cones, leaves the work area. In addition to the paving and the tree plantings, there may be miscellaneous items that need to be fixed or completed before the City will sign off on the project being finalized. A walk through with the City and the Contractor will take place and a ‘punch list’ will be created that identifies any outstanding items/issues.

Why did the City take out the crosswalk between Knight Street and Newton Street?
The City determined that there was sufficient crosswalk access between the two crosswalks located at Knight Street and Newton Street. There will be a new crosswalk located near the Guyer Street intersection that connects the City’s existing bike/walking path between the City’s core and the river.

Published August 20, 2012
What is the City doing to help access to businesses and residential homes during the Swift Boulevard and GWW closure?
There will be main detour routes posted at Williams Boulevard to the north and Knight Street to the south. All local traffic should be allowed past the detour barricades to access residential houses and local businesses. The intersection will be opened as soon as the work is completed in the area.

When will the City pave the street?
The City anticipates the paving to occur in September.

Why have concrete panels been removed? Will there be more removed?
The City has a level of expectation that must be met to ensure the longevity of the improvements being made. The City may require removal of material, such as a sidewalk panel, if the material has a flaw or a crack. There have been situations when the underground utility work needs to be modified and the removal of material is necessary. There may be more material removed if the situation requires it to make sure expectations are being met.

Published August 3, 2012
Why are the hours of the Swift/GWW intersection closure different than the Lee/GWW closure?
The work required for Swift/GWW is projected to take less time, so the City decided to start later to minimize the impact on businesses and traffic.

How does the City decide the closure dates?
The primary factor for deciding an intersection closure date is the timing of the work on the project. After it has been confirmed the preparation for the closure is complete, the City considers community events, residential concerns and business needs when choosing the dates and times for a major intersection closure. The City does not allow weekend closures during heavy traffic weekends and minimizes impacts to our citizens and businesses whenever possible.

I noticed there is new asphalt in locations where the work has been completed, is that what the final will look like?
No, the Contractor will repave the entire area when the underground and preparation work is completed. The paving will take at night and will require a road closure.

Published July 27, 2012
Why won’t the trees be planted until later?
The ideal time to plant trees is in the fall when the weather turns cooler or in the spring before the trees bud and the weather begins to get warmer.

How does someone get added to this e-mail list?
Anyone can be added to the list by contacting Trisha Herron at . The City does not use this list for solicitation and does not sell your contact information.

Published July 20, 2012
How will the project impact the Allied Arts “Art In The Park”?
The Contractor will not work on Friday, July 27th, to accommodate the increased traffic during the event. This non-work day was specifically called out in the original schedule and does not negatively impact the project timeline.

What work will take place on the west side of the street?
Much of the work on the west side will mirror what has already been completed on the east side of the street. The Contractor will remove asphalt and concrete, dig a trench, lay underground utilities and, eventually, install new trees. The entire area will be paved when all of the underground work is complete.

Published July 13, 2012
Will I be able to get to my favorite businesses and/or Howard Amon Park during the weekend closure?
Yes, the City will have posted detour routes and you will be able to access all of the businesses and Howard Amon Park during the weekend closure. Northbound traffic will take a left onto Jadwin Avenue to access all of the businesses along the west side of GWW, while traffic traveling southbound will be redirected at Swift and/or Knight Street. Access to the east side businesses, as well as Howard Amon Park, will be at the GWW/Bradley intersection with vehicles detouring through the Community Center’s Amon Drive. Please be alert and drive carefully as there will be an increase in traffic on these roads during the detour.

Why is the City allowing nighttime work during the weekend closure?
Although there are several factors that prevent nighttime work on the overall project, the City cautiously allows exceptions when the work involves the closure of a major intersection. The impact of the intersection closure is minimized because the work will take place during a small and specific timeframe.

What should I do when there is an emergency vehicle with its lights on while I’m in the construction area?
The first thing you should do when you hear the emergency sirens is to begin moving over to the furthest right lane; do not speed up and try to beat the emergency vehicle out of the construction area. Once you have safely navigated to the furthest right lane, allow the emergency vehicle to pass and then safely navigate to the appropriate lane for your travel. The need to move to the right lane is relevant to both travel directions, so move over even if the emergency vehicle is moving in the opposite direction.

Is there a set schedule for the left turn restrictions at the intersections?
Yes and no. The Contractor knows each day which intersections will need the restrictions based on the work location for that day. The Contractor does not have a detailed timeline associated with the closures, because the restrictions are based on specific workloads which may take less time or more time than originally anticipated. The best advice is to be attentive to the traffic reader boards, the northbound one is located between Comstock and Bradley. Do not turn left at intersections with the restriction.

Why did the City dig the ditches next to the sidewalk?
The Contractor installed electrical, irrigation and communication conduit in the locations where the concrete and asphalt were removed. Many people did not see the actual infrastructure being placed because the trench is covered as the infrastructure is installed.

Published July 6, 2012
Can I turn left into a business?
Yes, access to businesses is a top priority and supporting businesses is encouraged. There are left turn restrictions at the intersections to keep the flow of traffic moving. The location of the impacted intersection changes due to the area the crews are working in and are well marked with individual signs as well as on the construction reader board.  Remember, the Richland Police Department is committed to traffic safety awareness and will be located throughout the project to ensure compliance. You will be ticketed if caught making an illegal left turn at the designated intersections.

I heard the project was going to be extended by two months, is that true?
No. The project is still on schedule and is projected to be significantly completed by the end of September, with the exception of landscaping that can only take place later in the October or early November.

What are my rights as a business owner?
Road projects are a necessity in any community and the City of Richland recognizes the impact these projects have on residents and businesses. The needs of the residents and businesses were discussed and used as consideration while preparing for this large scale project. For example, the quick drying concrete was added to the scope of work to help maintain access into businesses with limited driveways. Also, the City and its contractor are in constant communication with those impacted by the project. There are times during the project when unexpected events occur, such as the phone line being cut, that may have a negative impact on those in the immediate impact area. If you feel you were impacted by an unexpected activity or have a positive solution to help businesses, please contact Trish Herron at .

What happed to the tree that I purchased in 2002 along GWW during the Downtown Revitalization Partnership Project?
In 2002, the City redeveloped the Downtown, including GWW and along Lee Boulevard from Jadwin into Howard Amon Park. As part of that revitalization, the Central Business District Partners sold the sponsorship of trees as a fundraiser to purchase different amenities. The sponsors were acknowledged through a plaque placed on the tree grate. Although there was a need to replace these trees, the acknowledgement of the donors will be located on the tree grate when the project is complete.

What is the purpose of the burlap on the concrete?
The wet burlap helps the concrete maintain the proper amount of moisture as it is curing. The integrity of the concrete may be compromised if it dries out too quickly.

Published June 29, 2012
Why are there limitations on left turns at various times during the project?
The elimination of left turns allows the traffic flow to keep moving without getting backed up. Drivers are notified of these modifications through the use of the construction reader board and individual signs located at the impacted intersections. Drivers have ignored these warnings and continue to make illegal left turns. There has been one accident where the driver made an illegal left turn and hit a southbound vehicle. The Richland Police Department is committed to traffic safety awareness and will be located throughout the project to ensure compliance. You will be ticketed if caught making an illegal left turn.

What happened to the phone lines?
The phone lines were not properly identified and crews severed the line while digging in an area near the fire station. The phone company worked on the connection and the line was reactivated around 5:45 PM the same day.

What is the pattern for the stamped area?
The existing shrubbery that was located along GWW was removed because of the poor condition of the plantings and will be replaced with decorative concrete. The Richland Arts Commission finalized the stamping detail this week with the selection of leaves and fish that will be randomly stamped into the colored concrete.

Why is the City moving the entrance to the dental offices?
The contractor will be relocating the entrance into the dental offices, located at 750 GWW, to make the area safer to navigate. Currently, the entrance is located too close to the Knight Street intersection and creates safety issues with drivers turning left from the southbound lanes. The entrance will be moved south and should resolve these issues.

Published June 22, 2012
How long will it take until cars can drive over the new concrete?
The City has authorized the use of quick setting concrete in addition to the regular setting concrete, so the length of time it takes to ensure the concrete is ready for vehicles is different for each. The regular concrete is ready in approximately 7 days and the quicker setting concrete takes about 4 full days. The quicker setting concrete is more expensive and is only being used in the locations where the crews must work on one half of a driveway at a time because of business access.

Will my driveway be blocked the entire time?
Maybe. The City will maintain access to half of a driveway when it is the only access point into the business and/or parking lot, but will completely close a driveway if there are alternate ways to get in and out of the parking area. The City has made contact with each of these businesses impacted.

When is the weekend closure?
The closure has a tentative date in the second part of July. The date will not be formally announced until the Contractor can confirm the schedule, which may shift if something unexpected happens during the project. The City understands that residents and businesses in the area are anxious for the closure dates and will broadcast that information as early as possible.

When will the City be done working on the northbound lanes?
The tentative date for working on the southbound lanes is project for the later part of July. The southbound portion of the project will begin after the intersection closure.

Published June 15, 2012
Why doesn’t the City do this project at night?
Noise, quality, safety and cost are several factors that prevent the entire project occurring at night. The City has a noise ordinance and there are residential homes on either side of the impact area with three hotels through the corridor. The Public Works Department reports that during nighttime projects the quality of construction is lessened; there is an increased awareness for the safety of workers; costs are increased; and there is an amplified burden on scheduling staff both for the contractor and the City.

There will be nighttime work during specific times throughout the project to minimize the length of time business access is completely closed. The City will allow the contractor to work at night during the intersection closures at Lee Boulevard and Swift Boulevard to ensure the intersections are closed for the least amount of time possible. Also, the City will pave the entire project at night to minimize the impact to traffic and business closures.

How will the project impact community events?
Even before a project goes out to bid, the City’s Public Works Department brings several departments together to discuss the impact a road project may have on residents, businesses, community events and visitors to our area. The Project Engineer uses this information while preparing the project scope of work. This foresight is the reason there are contractual obligations, such as lane restrictions during rush hour, a communication requirement and restricted work during community events.

Why is the City removing the trees and shrubs along GWW between Jadwin Avenue and Knight Street?
The shrubbery along GWW has struggled to survive, so the City will be removing all of it and replace it with decorative concrete. The City will also be removing the trees along GWW in this area and replacing them with more appropriate trees for that location. Additional trees will be planted along GWW between Knight Street and Swift Boulevard.