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Posted May 14, 2012, 10:09 am

Janet Rose Jackman TucsonSentinel.com

The Modern Streetcar Project is continuing with additional traffic closures Downtown and around Fourth Avenue and the University of Arizona.

The Sun Link team and the Tucson bicycling community are suggesting detour routes for bicyclists around the construction, with designated crossing areas while work is going on, said Michael Graham, a spokesman for the City.

The following construction affects motorists:

Downtown

• On-street parking will not be permitted along Broadway between Granada and Fifth Avenues.
• During Congress Street work, there will be intermittent closures of 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue at Congress Street.
• Scott Avenue is closed at Congress Street for approximately four months. Access to businesses north and south of the intersection, as well as access to street parking and garages off Scott Avenue, will be maintained.
• Construction on Congress Street includes curb to curb removal of asphalt and major excavation for utility relocations before the roadway is reconstructed with rail. The extensive nature of this work requires full closures 24 hours per day.

Fourth Avenue and University Boulevard

This area of the project includes Fourth Avenue from the Fourth 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:

• On Monday, University Boulevard will be closed to vehicular and bicycle traffic between Third Avenue and Euclid Avenue and between Euclid and Park Avenues. This closure will be in place for approximately four months while the contractor completes the removal of the existing roadway, underground utility work, rail placement and installation of the Overhead Conductor System.
• The intersections of University Boulevard with Bean Avenue, Second Avenue, Jacobus Avenue, First Avenue and Tyndal will be closed to through traffic.
• Traffic along Third, Euclid and Park Avenues will not be affected during this work.
• Sidewalk access will be maintained at all times.
• On Thursday and Friday, the contractor will transport welded rail to the work area along Fourth Avenue north of Sixth Street. The rail will be moved from an area near Tenth Street, north on Third Avenue to Seventh Street, west to Fourth Avenue and north through the intersection of Sixth Street. Several segments of rail will be transported each day.
• Officers will be on site to direct traffic at the intersections of Sixth Street at Fourth Avenue and Seventh Street at Fourth Avenue. Motorist should plan for delays.
• On-street parking along Third Street between 10th and Seventh streets will not be permitted.
• On-street parking along Seventh Street, between Third and Fourth avenues will not be permitted.
• On-street parking along Fourth Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets will not be permitted.
• Fourth Avenue is closed to vehicular and bicycle traffic between Sixth Street and University Boulevard. This closure will be in place for approximately four months.
•  Pedestrian access along Fourth Avenue will be maintained at all times.

University of Arizona 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:

• On Monday, Second Street will be closed to vehicular and bicycle traffic between Park Avenue and Palm Drive and between Highland and Warren Avenues. This closure will be in place while the contractor completes the removal of the existing roadway, underground utility work, rail placement and installation of the Overhead Conductor System.
• The intersection of Cherry Avenue at Second Street is closed. Signs will be in place to direct motorists around the work area. This intersection closure will be in place through the summer.
• Access to the Second Street garage will be maintained.
• Pedestrian access across Second Street near Highland Avenue will be maintained.
• On Monday,  First Street will be converted to two-way travel between Mountain and Campbell Avenues. This conversion helps facilitate traffic flow during Second Street construction activities.
• On Wednesday,  Martin Avenue will be converted to two-way travel between First and Second Streets, and Second Street will be converted to two-way travel between Warren and Martin Avenues. These conversions will help facilitate traffic flow during Second Street construction activities.
•  Palm Drive access at Second Street remains open, with easy access from Speedway Boulevard by taking Mountain Avenue to Second Street and heading west to Palm Drive.