by Nathan Boddy
A few dozen people circulated around tables at City Hall on Tuesday, December 14 to view the current plans for a rebuild of Ravalli Street in Hamilton. Representatives of WGM engineering firm were on hand to answer questions about the project, which should begin in spring of 2024.
As drawn, the new rebuild will see several changes, including a roundabout at Ravalli’s intersection with 7th Street. Somewhat narrowed travel lanes (10 feet as opposed to the existing 12), in addition to improved sidewalk and intersection approaches, should also bolster safety along the corridor. The plan also indicates designated bike lanes, as well as landscaping changes. Residents and concerned citizens were encouraged to leave their comments with WGM and city staff, or to mark up points of concern on the map itself.
“I think it’ll be good,” said Chris Ferguson of the plan. He explained that his only lingering question was whether or not traffic speed or amount would be increased following the changes. “Right now it’s a race track,” he said about Ravalli Street. As evidence he indicated the presence of the digital speed sign on the roadway near his home. “Right now (the sign) has been out there long enough that people have forgotten about it,” he said.
The plans for reconstruction of Ravalli Street have been on the books for at least a decade, said city Public Works Director, Donny Ramer. The city’s 2009 transportation plan indicates that Ravalli Street is a key local connector between Highway 93 and Fourth Street. The road connects Highway 93 at a four-way light, westward and around the corner to a key Kiwanis/River Park access point. With substantial amount of traffic along that corridor and current lack of constructed shoulder and sidewalks, it has been on the city’s list of projects to accomplish for some time. Ramer says that they are ready to tackle the job, while hopefully avoiding disruptions to local residents. To that end, they hope to break ground and get as far as the 7th Street intersection this summer. The extent to which the construction goes westward along Ravalli Street will be determined by the bids, once they come in. As with most construction, prices have gone up in recent years.
Most in attendance on Wednesday night seemed pleased with the plans as drawn. Public Director Ramer said that the input he’s received about the project have fallen mostly along those lines, with several people being shocked to discover where their property lines actually lie, or expressing concern about parking.
To view the current plans, visit the City of Hamilton project page and select ‘Ravalli Street Plan Set.’
http://www.cityofhamilton.net/projects.html
Hobo Hilton says
We can only hope the city will be adhering to it’s own codes.
12.04.010 – Authority of city council.
Whenever it is deemed necessary to construct any sidewalk or curb in the city, the city council may, by an order duly made and entered upon its minutes, order the construction of such sidewalk or curb, specifying in such order, the name of the street along which and the number of the lot or lots, and the block in front of which such sidewalk or curb is to be constructed. Sidewalks shall be installed for all new construction.
https://library.municode.com/mt/hamilton/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT12STSIPUPL_CH12.04SICUCO_ART3DRAP_12.04.240CIRI-WEHBEPAWIPRPRLI
Hobo Hilton
Helen Sabin says
What this will do is increase accidents, narrow the street when SNOW comes, and make it a hassle for drivers. Streets in Hamilton Need to be INCREASED in size – NOT decreased. This is NOT a brilliant idea. Most of the folks here drive LARGE PICK UP TRUCKS not small city cars.
We saw this happen around Colorado College in Colorado Springs and once the graft money was paid to the ones who did the work, they went back and tore it all out as it DIDN”T WORK. Hamiltonians should be yelling and screaming about this stupidity in action! Further, with adding all the new low cost housing (cough cough) and the increased influx of people coming to the valley we will have more traffic, and not enough doctors, schools, teachers, and police to handle all the new people…its time to dump your city council and put in those who use common sense. WIDER streets NOT smaller ones….DUH! and let’s keep the valley a valley!! Thank you!
Mike Miller says
Helen, I don’t understand.
Just last month you said “we have good commissioners…”
How is it the same respectable portion of the voting public votes in good commissioners, but a bad council?
Let’s hope the common sense you say we need isn’t the same displayed as our commissioners not doing anything for 20 years about septic processing systems needed in the valley and still don’t have a plan… ’cause otherwise the valley you want kept a valley will turn into that particular type of creek you mentioned last month.
Sue says
Helen, please do some research. There have been numerous studies showing that narrowing streets and adding sidewalk bump-outs at intersections causes drivers to unconsciously slow down. And the streets are being narrowed become of addition of sidewalks, which is badly needed. You live in Corvallis….do you ever even use Ravalli??
I live off Ravalli and use it every day. I haven’t noticed it being a “race-track” as the article says, but there are huge problems, including the lack of sidewalks and the horrible heaving occurring at 8th/Ravalli causing drivers to swerve around them. Not to mention almost being t-boned on multiple occasions because people at cross-streets don’t stop. How about in addition to improvements on Ravalli, we add stop signs to all the other uncontrolled intersections in SW Hamilton and stop making people guess which corners are controlled and which aren’t? I see more people flying down 5th, Desta, Desmet, and others (past uncontrolled intersections) far more than I see them flying down Ravalli.
Gomez says
The lack of stop signs always baffled me. I mean, what the heck? How does that even work? I’ve never seen that in any other town or city that I’ve lived. It’s just weird.