For More Information Contact:
Joe Harwood, 541-543-5788
Eugene Water & Electric Board

Feb. 18, 2011

Coburg Road water main project will shift traffic

Eugene Water & Electric Board construction crews will shift northbound and southbound Coburg Road traffic into one-lane configurations in each direction beginning at 9 p.m. Tuesday night as part of the $1.2 million water main replacement project along Coburg Road.

The project started on Feb. 2, and crews began working a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. overnight shift on Feb. 14 to lessen traffic congestion and reduce impacts to businesses along Coburg Road.

In order to provide more room for heavy equipment, EWEB will close the two southbound lanes of Coburg Road in the construction zone, and direct that traffic into one northbound Coburg Road lane. That traffic configuration will force northbound Coburg Road traffic into a one-lane pattern through the construction area.

Access to businesses along Coburg Road will remain open during the project.

Flaggers will be on scene to direct traffic during the night work. Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians should proceed with caution when entering the work zone.

The project, which will be complete in April, began at the intersection of Coburg Road and Oakway Road, will proceed north toward Harlow Road.

The project will replace an aging and brittle 8-inch concrete water main installed in the 1950s with a more durable 10-inch ductile iron pipe. The existing main runs under the outside southbound lane of Coburg Road and has outlived its expected lifespan.

The Eugene Water & Electric Board is in the fourth year of a major capital improvement program to replace aging infrastructure such as water mains and distribution lines. The existing main under Coburg is on the utility’s replacement list.

The city of Eugene is planning to repave the section of Coburg Road from Oakway Road north past Harlow Road this summer, so EWEB needs to replace the water main prior to the pavement project. The new main will allow EWEB to continue to provide reliable water service to this section of Eugene. The larger diameter pipe also will improve water flow to fire hydrants.

See a map of the project area and current work zone