The construction on the Tucson Modern Streetcar continues to progress.

Crews removed more fences and reopened two major streets this week.

First, crews reopened Fourth Avenue between Sixth and Seventh Street. Fourth Avenue between Seventh and Ninth Street is still closed however.

Late last week, construction crews removed the fences along Congress reopening one lane between Toole and Scott Avenues.

There is still very little connectivity for bicyclists or motorists, but with each road reopened, the light at the end of the tunnel gets a little brighter.

Check the update below for more information about the construction:

This update is for the week of October 29, 2012.

Please note: Roadway closures indicate areas where roads are closed to vehicular and bicycle traffic. Pedestrian access adjacent to these closures will be maintained at all times. Cyclists must walk their bikes while using the sidewalks.

The following schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions and/or equipment failure.

I-10 and West End of Line

This area of the project includes the west side of Interstate 10, Cushing Street under I-10 to Granada Avenue and Granada Avenue to Congress Street. Traffic control in this area is as follows:

• No traffic control associated with the Modern Streetcar project is scheduled in the west side of I-10 area for the week of October 29, 2012.

Downtown

This area of the project includes Congress Street and Broadway through downtown from Granada Avenue to 5th Avenue. Traffic control in this area is as follows:

• Congress Street is open to one travel lane between Toole and Scott Avenues.

• Parking will not be permitted between Fifth and Sixth Avenues on Congress Street.
• Most fencing in the area has been removed. Some of the remaining fences are protecting work sites of private business improvements in the area.

• Beginning Wednesday, October 31 through mid November 2012, the intersection of Stone Avenue and Congress Street will be closed each night from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. while the contractor completes utility work in the intersection.

• Motorists should watch for detour signs directing them around the work area.

• The contractor has almost completed the installation of the new sewer mainline and HCS connections on Congress Street between Stone and Church Avenues. Work on the waterline improvements will begin the week of October 29, 2012.

• ADVANCE NOTICE: On Monday, November 12, 2012, the contractor will begin the installation of the redesigned sewer system on Broadway, between Church and Stone Avenues. The work will require the complete closure of Broadway between Church and Stone Avenues.

• Broadway and Church Avenue traffic will be detoured around the work area.
• Access to the One South Church parking garage will be maintained.
• Detailed information will be provided prior to the work beginning.

• Caylor Construction, a private developer unrelated to the Sun Link Streetcar project, has begun construction of a 6-story building at the northeast corner of Broadway and Stone Avenue. Motorists should watch for workers and equipment in the area.

• ONGOING: The contractor is continuing work on the installation water lines of Granada Avenue, between Congress and Cushing Streets. Access to the Federal Court complex and the Tucson Convention Center will be maintained.

• As work progresses over the next several months, traffic movement will be alternated between the north and south bound lanes of travel in order to accommodate work in the area. One travel lane in each direction will be maintained. Most work along this section of roadway will take place overnight between 7:30 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning.

• ONGOING: The contractor will continue underground utility work along Broadway. Motorists should anticipate nightly lane restrictions between Fifth and Granada Avenues with traffic possibly reduced to one travel lane through the area. Restrictions will be in place from 7:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning.

• On-street parking will not be permitted along Broadway between Granada and Fifth Avenues.

Fourth Avenue and University Boulevard

This area of the project includes 4th Avenue from the 4th Avenue underpass to University Boulevard, University Boulevard to Main Gate Square, and Park Avenue to 2nd Street. Traffic control in this area is as follows:

• Construction of the High School Wash box culvert located in an area along Fourth Avenue between Seventh and Eighth Streets has begun. Construction of the box culvert and roadway improvements is expected to be complete by December 3, 2012.

• Fourth Avenue from Seventh Street to Ninth Street is closed to vehicular and bicycle traffic.

• The intersection of Ninth Street and Fourth Avenue is open to southbound turn movements only. Ninth Street, west of Fourth Avenue, is closed to all vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic while construction of the Maintenance and Storage facility is underway.

• The intersection of Third Avenue and University Boulevard is closed to through traffic. The closure allows the contractor to complete work along University Boulevard from the west side of Fourth Avenue to east of Third Avenue. The scheduled work includes; roadway excavation, drainage, preparing subgrade and placement of the aggregate base coarse, construction of curb and ramps, curved rail and switch installation, pouring the concrete track slabs and paving. The work is expected to take approximately seven-weeks to complete. University Boulevard from the west side of Fourth Avenue to just east of Third Avenue will be closed until December 6, 2012.

• Vehicle and bicycle traffic along north and southbound Third and Fourth Avenues and east and westbound University Boulevard will be detoured around the work area.
• Pedestrian access to all residents and businesses in the area will be maintained.
• Parking north and south of the Third and Fourth Avenue intersections with University Boulevard will be maintained.

• On Tuesday, October 30 through Thursday, November 1, 2012, the intersection of Park Avenue and University Boulevard will be closed each night from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. This temporary intersection closure allows the contractor to complete improvements to existing sewer facilities in the area.

• No through traffic and no turn movements will be allowed through the intersection between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following morning.

• On Wednesday, October 31 and Thursday, November 1 from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., Euclid Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Second and Fifth Streets while the contractor completes traffic signal work at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and University Boulevard. Turn movements will not be affected.

• ONGOING: The intersection of Eighth Street and Fourth Avenue is closed. Access to the MaloneyÕs and OÕMalley parking lot can be reached by using the Eighth Street and Herbert Avenue entrance.

U of A and Health Sciences Center

This area of the project includes 2nd Street to Warren Avenue, the Warren Avenue underpass and a section of Helen Street that connects to the Health Science Center. Traffic control in this area is as follows:

• ONGOING: The intersection of Warren Avenue and First Street is closed while the contractor installs a water main and fire hydrant in the area. This temporary intersection closure is expected to be in place through November 2, 2012.

• Traffic will not be permitted through the intersection.
• Access to residents and businesses will be maintained.

• ONGOING: Second Street, from Palm to Highland is closed while the contractor prepares the roadway for rail placement. The work will include excavation of the existing roadway, rail installation, and placement of new asphalt pavement. This work is expected to be completed by early November.

• The intersection of Mountain Avenue and Second Street is closed.
• The Second Street Garage can be accessed via Cherry or Vine Avenues and then traveling west to the garage.
• Motorists exiting the Second Street Garage will only be permitted to make a right turn movement.
• Westbound travel on Second Street will be directed around the work area.
• To provide access to the Student Union loading dock, James E. Rogers Way will be temporarily converted to two-way travel from September 24, through approximately early November 2012. This change in traffic control along James E. Rogers Way will not provide access to Second Street. Parking will not be allowed along James E. Rogers Way during the temporary two-way conversion.

• ONGOING: Helen Street, between Warren and Martin Avenues will be closed through December 2012.

• ONGOING: The Warren Avenue Underpass closure is expected to be in place through February 2013, while the contractor completes the removal of the existing roadway, underground utility work, rail placement and installation of the Overhead Contact System. Detour signs will be in place to help direct pedestrian and bicycle traffic through the area.

• ONGOING: Second Street is closed to vehicular and bicycle traffic between Cherry and Warren Avenues for the removal of the existing roadway, underground utility work, rail placement and installation of the OCS.

• Access to the Second Street Garage will be maintained.