West Chemeketa Reconfig, Part 1 (Update 107)

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Entry posted by Tarkus · June 29, 2023

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(This update was originally posted on August 23, 2020 on the SC4 Devotion edition of Tarkusian Cities. It has now made its way to the Simtropolis edition, with minor edits, alongside Update 106. -Tarkus)

Hi everyone-

Thanks for the warm welcome back--I'm here with the next part of the downtown Chemeketa roadwork, focusing on the reconfiguration going on along the 5th Avenue/Murdock Way corridor.

Here's the map again for the vicinity of the projects we'll be watching. This update (as well as the next couple, at least) will be focused on Project Area A, involving the 5th Avenue/Murdock Way corridor, from just west of Wallace Road out to Progress Street.

As mentioned last update, 4th and 5th Avenues N/NE are being converted into a one-way couplet, between the Murdock Curve (which will eventually be dramatically reconfigured) and Progress Street. One of the challenges described in that update was the offset intersections of Mission Street N, which is a somewhat important collector which crosses under Highway 36 and connects this part of downtown to the university. Here are the 4th/5th/Mission intersections from another angle (facing east).

The section of Mission north of 5th is merely a local street, and not of vital importance, but the portion south (including the offset) is of importance, and would create a rather confusing maze if the 4th/5th couplet conversion were to be completed without realignment. That, of course, is going to require some demolition, and eventually, redevelopment (some of which you can see is already underway). Here's a look at the demolition (facing north). Mission Street has been closed off right before 4th Avenue temporarily as well.

A look at further work (facing north):

Mission Street itself is also going to become part of a one-way couplet, being the southbound component. Its northbound counterpart will be Oregon Street N, while Farmer Street N will remain two-way, sandwiched in the middle.

With the realignment of Mission Street N complete, the stretch of 4th to the west can now be converted to one-way traffic, with a signalized intersection (facing west).

Here's where the newly one-way 4th Avenue N intersects Murdock Way N, right along the Murdock Curve (facing north).

And now that 4th is a through one-way connection, 5th can be converted to one-way traffic as well. Here's the Murdock Curve after that conversion--you'll notice that curve isn't as smooth as the Road curve that preceded it, in large part due to the fact that this is actually (plot twist!) a temporary alignment. This couplet will soon be re-funneled onto a new roadway that will cross over Wallace, serve the Murdock District high rises, and then intersect Murdock Way--all of which will be featured in Update 108. (facing south)

As part of this larger reconfiguration, 1st and 2nd Avenues N will also be extended and converted into a one-way couplet as well, which will tie into Murdock at the south end of the existing Murdock Curve. Here's a look at part of that corridor--the two Roads intersecting here are 2nd Ave N and Oregon St N (prior to the Oregon St one-way conversion) (facing north).

And here's Oregon Street N at 4th Ave N after conversion (but just prior to 5th Ave's conversion) (facing north):

That does it for this initial phase of one-way conversion in downtown Chemeketa. We'll be looking at the really heavy-duty aspect of this whole project next update.

-Tarkus