Central Avenue Construction Nears Completion

Residents of Sidney who had altered their driving commute by taking residential streets to avoid the construction taking place along Central Avenue seem to have resumed use of the now completed and reconfigured three-lane street and life for motor vehicle drivers appears to be getting back to normal.

Last April, the renovations got underway after the city approved street changes at the recommendation of the Montana Department of Transportation that converted Central Avenue from a four-lane highway to a three-lane highway.

Street construction was completed by CMG Construction Inc., Billings.

“Our goal for this project was to make it safer for everyone trying to park on Central Avenue and we wanted to alleviate the congestion. After looking at the reconfiguration proposals from bigger places it really did show that historically having three lanes accomplishes this,” said Sidney Mayor Bret Smelser.

Shoppers wanting to head downtown for their last minute Christmas shopping are still experiencing some inconvenience as the DOT works on repouring the curbside bulb outs that had a design flaw with the slope of the ADA ramps when they were first constructed which didn’t meet the highway department’s specifications. The bulb outs are used to help ensure motorists see pedestrians before they enter the roadway. Milling of the asphalt is slated to take place this spring.

“Even with the increased traffic in Sidney, the number of vehicles driving on Central Avenue is still low enough to warrant having the three lanes. It creates safer access for both drivers and pedestrians,” said Shane Mintz, Department of Transportation district administrator, Glendive.

He also said the DOT will return in the spring to determine if left turn signals are needed to better serve the flow of traffic. It was brought to his attention that some community members want to see a left turn signal placed at Holly Street. Mintz added that if left turn signals were implanted it wouldn’t take long to accomplish because the signals already have the components necessary for implementation.

Central Avenue utilizes both actuated and timer lights that can be used to best suit the needs of motorists.

For businesses located at ground zero for where the construction took place, they are pleased to have the street functioning again but are frustrated by the congestion. “It was a mess when the roads were torn up but a lot of the construction workers came in and ate lunch so it was a boost for business. The one problem I am experiencing is that the traffic is backing up so badly that people can’t get into my driveway. When you look outside there is a long line of cars,” said Gary Lee, Baker Boy owner.

Stacie Mindt, a self-employed cosmetologist at the Magic Mirror doesn’t think converting the three lanes has cured the congestion along Central Avenue but says business has not been affected because customers utilize their back door when entering the shop. “I have witnessed on several occasions times when the traffic is backed up all the way to the next signal. People for the most part have been generous enough not to block the streets but I don’t like the congestion when you have to creep out into it and there is no room,” she said.

The original reconfiguration project stems from discussions that date back over a decade ago when a request was made to implement a stop light at 7th Street and Central Avenue and also when several children were injured by motor vehicle accidents several years before that. The city contacted the DOT in Glendive and requested a feasibility study be conducted to determine if a stop light would be beneficial. Following the study, the state determined there was an above average amount of vehicle accidents occurring on Central Avenue and a recommendation was made to reconfigure the street and have three lanes for motor vehicle traffic rather than four. “To some it may seem like traffic would become more congested with less lanes but with all of the proposals and studies we reviewed, statistically in the larger cities the change works,” Smelser said.

Sidney City Council member, Cal Oraw opposed the change when it went to a vote before the council but stated he hadn’t heard any complaints from the community since the implementation of the three lanes. “The challenge with Central Avenue is that there is traffic coming into it from our two state highways, U.S. Highway 16 and U.S. Highway 200 and streets get very congested. You get three semi trucks in a row and they take up an entire block but I think everyone needs to have a little patience as things are wrapping up,” Oraw said.

Oraw said the congestion is enticing motorists to use alternate routes and is pushing more traffic onto Lincoln Avenue and 2nd Street SW and 2nd Street SE.

In June 2011, Glenn Mavity, a Sidney resident, filed a petition against the city and the Montana Department of Transportation requesting the Seventh Judicial Court to issue a temporary injunction to halt the now completed construction. His request alleged Gerald Navratil, Sidney’s city attorney, refused to recognize petitions opposing the reconfiguration of four lanes to three when he ignored over 1,000 signatures on the petition.

The city was represented by Savage Law Firm but the requests made by Maverity were rejected by the courts citing his efforts came too late. During a city council meeting, Mayor Bret Smelser also noted that Maverity did not attend any of the three public meetings held to discuss the impact of the configuration change.

The DOT will return this summer to complete the chip sealing portion of the Central Avenue project and have also scheduled a pavement preservation project for the truck route.