Lane Transit District (LTD) crews plan to remove approximately 50 street trees along West 11th Avenue and Garfield Street this week to prepare for new EmX stations and road widening as part of the West Eugene EmX project. Tree removal will occur during the day for traffic and crew safety. Motorists should expect daytime lane restrictions on West 11th Avenue and Garfield Street during the removal process, expected to take a few days.
The trees range from two to 20 inches in diameter and 80 percent are less than 10 inches in diameter. Another 60 privately-owned trees will be removed during the coming months as acquisitions are completed with owners, which will complete the tree removal work for the project. The West Eugene EmX project will plant at least 460 trees, resulting in a net increase of more than 200 trees growing along the route. The new trees will offer greater diversity, representing more than 40 varieties selected from the City of Eugene approved street tree list.
LTD also advises motorists that bridge work on West 11th Avenue will restrict one eastbound lane between Bailey Hill Road and Obie Street, beginning after Labor Day and continuing for several months. During this time EmX crews will widen the West 11th bridge that spans Amazon Creek by two lanes. The bridge widening also will close a portion of the Fern Ridge Path to bicyclists and pedestrians. A detour route using Bailey Hill and Stewart Roads will allow path users to travel around the closed area. The bridge widening is designed to maintain traffic flow on West 11th Avenue and accommodate EmX service along the corridor. Crews intended to begin the bridge work earlier but the permit process took longer than expected.
