Note: This update was originally posted in 2013 in the SC4 Devotion edition of Tarkusian Cities, as part of a special feature, but had not made it over to the Simtropolis version.  It has been slightly edited to fit with the context of the Simtropolis edition.

Hi everyone-

The Tarkusian Cities update splurge continues. 

Last we left off, the Ashcroft overpass had been built, along with a good bit of the new routing of Tweedy Blvd, and work on the light rail line.  Now, we're going to delve a little further into that project.

This is at the south end of the Ashcroft overpass (facing east), where Ashcroft has been temporarily routed to end at 45th St SE.  This temporarily alignment will give way to the permanent alignment this update.



The short, curvy connector roadway between 45th and Stiratt will be replaced by the Ashcroft extension, which will be built to include 4 travel lanes, at least between 45th and 61st during this phase.  Here's the progress on that (facing east).



This is the new Ashcroft/Stiratt intersection, after completion (facing east).  The old connector road can be seen in the lower left corner.



The new Ashcroft/45th intersection (facing east).  The section of 45th up top formerly crossed the tracks and intersected Tweedy Blvd, but now dead-ends just before the tracks.  You can also see the remnants of the old connector road and the temporary Ashcroft alignment here.



The Ashcroft overpass is seen here, fully open to traffic, with preliminary work on the Ashcroft stop on the new Chemeketa Red Line (facing east).



This is along the Tweedy Blvd extension.  (facing east)  Part of the old alignment of 35th has been turned into a roadway paralleling Tweedy on the other side of the Red Line tracks.  You can also see the city's "trial" passenger train from C&O running on the heavy rail tracks.



In order to provide access from Tweedy to Ashcroft, an access road was built, hooking into the 36th/37th St couplet through the industrial area, and providing more direct access to Ashcroft Station (facing east).



The next update will provide a little further clarity as to all the myriad changes undertaken as part of this project.

-Tarkus