Southeast Boulevard Extension Would Relieve Traffic Congestion

The city’s long-awaited plan to build an alternate route around the congestion at 29th and Regal is moving closer to construction.

City engineers are drawing plans to extend Southeast Boulevard from its current dead end at 31st Avenue to Regal Street.

The new route would curve in a southeast direction from behind the Lincoln Heights Home Center to connect with Regal at 34th Avenue.

Engineers hope the new route will relieve traffic pressure along the Lincoln Heights shopping corridor.

The city has received approval for state and federal grants that would provide half the money needed for the $1.8 million project, now slated for completion in 1999.

But about $830,000 is still needed.

Jerry Shrope, planning engineer, said the city is counting on making up the difference with additional grants next year.

With more than half the project money in hand, the city’s real estate office is talking with property owners along the route to buy right-of-way.

In order to make room for the project, the city needs to buy property on the east side of Regal between 33rd and 35th.

There are no plans, however, to remove existing houses.

Dick Raymond, design engineer, said the city is following the neighborhood’s recommendation for a curving two-lane parkway with room for bike lanes in both directions.

The center divider would be landscaped with trees and grass, he said.

The extension would have no intersecting streets or driveways, so traffic would move without holdups.

The new intersection at Regal and Southeast Boulevard may be operated without any traffic lights. Northbound traffic would be encouraged to turn left and bypass the Lincoln Heights shopping area.

But officials haven’t ruled out a traffic light, Raymond said. Plans call for installing wire in the ground just in case.

Design work on the project is expected to continue through the winter. Construction would not start until 1998 at the earliest, depending on when additional money is received, Raymond said.

, DataTimes