City roadway and sidewalk improvement project may impact campus traffic

The City of Auburn is expected to begin a major roadway and sidewalk improvements project this month for College and Gay streets and Samford and Reese avenues. Motorists and pedestrians travelling near the construction area may experience temporary detours and possible delays.

The project received grant funding from the Alabama Department of Transportation, or ALDOT, to widen and resurface parts of all four roadways, as well as add and improve crosswalks and sidewalks. See the included map for more information.

Initial impacts are expected to include work by Alabama Power to remove overhead power lines along College Street and Samford Avenue and refeeding of the university parking lot lights at the College Street and Samford Avenue lot. At least one northbound and southbound lane of College Street will remain open while construction is taking place.

Project benefits will include:

• Widening of College Street between Samford Avenue and Reese Avenue to provide new left turn lanes and a new landscaped median.

• New midblock crosswalk with flashing crosswalk beacon on College Street near the Heart of Auburn development.

• Intersection improvements with decorative crosswalks and new traffic signals at three intersections.

• A new sidewalk on the west side of College Street between Garden Drive and Samford Avenue adjacent to the Auburn University president’s estate.

The project is expected to take about one year with the City of Auburn providing a more detailed schedule as the project begins.