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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 105%;">CITY OF COLUMBIA, MISSOURI
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P.O. BOX 6015 COLUMBIA, MO 65205
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<h2 style="font-size: 200%;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</h2>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">May 5, 2017</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 75px; font-size: 120%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Columbia Public Works
<br />(573) 691-2228</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:200%;"><h3 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 170%;">Providence Road Improvement Project scheduled to begin week of May 15</h3>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;">A major Columbia road will be getting some major improvements this summer, but traffic disruption will be minimized. The project will add new traffic signals, turn lanes, a sidewalk and signalized pedestrian crosswalks that will increase safety for drivers, bikers and pedestrians.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Providence Road Improvement Project is scheduled to begin construction the week of May 15, 2017.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">The goals for the project include improving Providence Road through-traffic movement and improving access for the Grasslands Neighborhood and the University of Missouri.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The intersection of Stadium Boulevard and Providence Road is one of the busiest signalized intersections in Columbia," Engineering Supervisor </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Allison Anderson said. "This </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">causes through traffic on Providence Road to block access to and from the side roads to the Grasslands Neighborhood and the University." </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To lessen the impact on local traffic during construction, all lane restrictions on Providence will be performed during overnight hours. However, there will be some closures of side-road access beginning with Turner Avenue at Providence, Kentucky Boulevard at Providence and University Heights at Providence. Turner is scheduled to reopen by June 15, weather permitting; Kentucky Boulevard and University Heights by June 30, weather permitting. The full project is scheduled to be completed by early Fall 2017.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drivers, nonmotorized transportation users and pedestrians are reminded to use caution in and around the work zone and use alternate routes when accessing Kentucky, Turner and University Heights. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Specific project improvements include:<br /><br /></span></p>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>New Traffic Signals:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Installation of traffic signals along Providence Road at the intersection with Burnam Road and at the intersection with Turner Avenue.</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Traffic Signal Removal:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Removal of the existing traffic signal along Providence Road at the intersection with Rollins Street.</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>New Sidewalk:</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Construction of a sidewalk along the south side of Burnam Road from Birch Road to Providence Road.</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Two Signalized Crosswalks: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Enhancing t</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">he crosswalks at the signalized intersections at Turner and Burnam to meet or exceed current standards, including pedestrian signals.</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Southbound right turn lane: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">Extension of the southbound right turn lane onto Stadium from Providence Road.</span></li>
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<li style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Intersection access improvements: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">The intersections of Providence Road with Bingham Road and Kentucky Boulevard will be converted to right-in/right-out/left-in. The intersections of Providence Road with Rollins Street and Brandon Road will be converted to right-in/right-out.</span></li>
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<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"The safety of pedestrians, drivers and nonmotorized transportation users, as recently highlighted by the City's adoption of a Vision Zero policy, is our primary focus when we design and implement construction of new infrastructure projects," Public Works Director David Nichols said. "So the Providence Road Improvement Project fits in very well with those efforts as we work towards making our roads and intersections less congested and safer." </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The project was competitively bid this spring and is estimated to be completed by the end of fall 2017, weather permitting. The Columbia City Council approved the project after a public hearing on June 3, 2013. Other public hearings and interested party meetings were conducted on April 24, 2008; April 20, 2010; November 19, 2012; March 20, 2013; and April 15, 2013. The project investment will be an estimated $3,920,000 with funds coming from 2005 Capital Improvement Sales Tax and MoDOT's Surface Transportation Program (STP)</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">funds. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Additional closures or lane restrictions will be announced later as necessary but Providence will remain open. Updates on project progress will be available at </span><a href="http://atwww.como.gov/publicworks/providence-improvement"><span style="font-weight: 400;">www.como.gov/publicworks/providence-improvement</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p></div>
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