The Hermiston City Council got a preview of what a newly-aligned S.E. Second Street will look like during Monday’s meeting.
City Planner Clint Spencer went over the S.E. Second Street gateway design that will result in a new look for the street that runs in front of the Hermiston Community Center.
Spencer said the change will enhance the safety of an existing intersection and beautify and enhance an entrance to the downtown. The existing landscape island in the intersection will also be removed entirely. The project is within the city’s urban renewal district and is estimated to cost $450,000. The district has budgeted for its share of the $400,000 with the other $50,000 coming from the Oregon Department of Transportation.
Spencer called the current alignment “dangerous.”
The realignment will change the intersection geometry to a right-angle intersection and narrows S.E. Second Street to be a one-way only northbound street for a short distance to the north Community Center driveway. What that means is the left turn movement from SE Second Street onto Highway 395 will be eliminated entirely and vehicles will need to use the existing intersections at Newport and Hurlburt to enter Highway 395.
SE Second Street will remain a two-way street from E. Newport Ave south to the north Community Center driveway. The existing Highway 395 driveway for the Community Center will be eliminated and new sidewalk and curbing installed.
Spencer said a significant new landscape improvement is planned for both sides of SE Second Street. New curb, gutter, ADA ramps, and sidewalk are planned along the entire highway frontage which will result in approximately 250 feet of new pedestrian improvements on Highway 395, creating a safer pedestrian crossing at SE Second Street.
The city met with business owners affected by the project. Spencer said the city received unanimous support for the redesign. The only concern, said Spencer, was that the city be mindful about the types of trees planted so as not to obscure business signage.
Bids are expected to go out later this month.
Very nice design, love it all but the trees! The trees will shed leaves all over and be a mess, just like the ones downtown on main street.
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