Springfield Standard

The City of Springfield, in partnership with the Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association, will celebrate the completion of intersection and pedestrian safety improvements in the neighborhood on Wednesday, July 17, from 5 to 6 p.m. at 1846 N. Grant.

Identified by the neighborhood as a need through the City’s Neighborhood Works program, the project involves improvements at the intersections of Grant Avenue and Chase Street and Lyon Avenue and Chase Street. The project aims to enhance pedestrian safety and accessibility in Woodland Heights, providing a safer environment for residents and visitors. Curb extensions were added to shorten the crossing distance for pedestrians, which also narrows driving lanes and slows traffic. A new pedestrian-activated Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) was added at the Grant Avenue intersection to further alert traffic to the presence of pedestrians and help provide a safe place to cross during heavy traffic.

The project was designed by Public Works with construction completed by D&E Plumbing and Heating, Inc., at a cost of approximately $97,000.

The public is invited to a brief ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. on the northeast corner of Grant Avenue and Chase Street. A two-block walking tour of the improvements will take place immediately following. Parking is available along Chase Street, east of the Grant Avenue intersection.

“Our neighborhood is very grateful for the Neighborhood Works grant program and that our project was awarded,” says Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association President Becky Volz. “Marked crosswalks in the area have been desired for a long time. They will certainly enhance the walkability of Woodland Heights and increase safety for pedestrians.”

About the Neighborhood Works Program

Funded through the ¼-cent Capital Improvement Sales Tax, the Neighborhood Works program is intended to fund small-scale capital improvements within officially registered neighborhoods. The program gives residents the opportunity to identify projects they believe will offer the greatest benefit to their area including small-scale stormwater drainage improvements, sidewalk and trail connections, public parking and alleyway improvements, and updates to parks. Individual projects are limited to $100,000 or less and must take place on city-owned property or right-of-way. Applications for the next round of Neighborhood Works funding are expected to be accepted this winter.