Central Street Corridor Phase II

About the Project

Phase II of the Central Street Corridor project will continue complete streets improvements along Central Street between Benton Avenue and Clay Avenue, including a multi-use path on the north side of Central and a sidewalk on the south side. Intersection and signal improvements will be made at Central Street and Drury Lane. Underground stormwater infrastructure will also be included as well as the installation of a small rain garden at Central and Clay to help improve water quality. Gas, water, electrical and fiber utilities will be updated within the project boundaries.

“Central Street functions as a vital east-west connector street in our roadway network and links the community to government services, the Midtown Library Branch, City Utilities, Central High School, Drury and OTC,” explains Public Works project manager Nick Edelman. “As we continue complete streets improvements along this corridor, we’ll be providing safe and equitable transportation to all who need to access these services.”

Considering the Phase II portion of Central Street bisects Drury University Campus, the City worked closely with the university throughout the project design process to plan around on-going facility construction and to ensure it aligns with Drury’s established master plan. The project will incorporate on-street parking, decorative street lighting and a grass-covered median throughout the extent of the project.

What is a complete street?

A complete street network is one that is planned, designed, constructed, operated and maintained to service pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages to safely and efficiently travel. The City formally adopted its Complete Streets Policy in 2014. Public Works has since worked to include elements to accommodate all users in improvement projects including the recent Battlefield and Fremont Intersection and Roadway Widening project and Primrose Street Widening project.  

The complete streets effort aligns with a consistent call from citizens for a more walkable community, heard in citizen surveys and throughout the Forward SGF comprehensive planning process.

About Central Street Corridor Phase I 

Phase I of Central Street improvements were completed in 2016 at a cost of $2.2 million. Called the Central-Pythian Corridor Project, the project made complete street improvements along Central Street from Clay Avenue to National Avenue, redirecting traffic around Ozarks Technical Community College Campus via Pythian Avenue. The project installed a roundabout at Central and Sherman, constructed a multi-use path, new sidewalk and intersection improvements at National and Pythian.

Phase II will continue these improvements west, connecting bicycles, pedestrians and vehicles to vital government services, City Utilities, the Midtown Branch Library, Drury University, and Central High School.