85-year-old material discovered under Pearl Street in Eugene; road construction extended

Street construction in Downtown Eugene could have roadways shut down longer than expected after 85-year-old materials were discovered below Pearl Street.

According to the City of Eugene, paving contractors found materials beneath the street from its original construction in the 1940s, primarily round rock, which was a standard roadway material of the time.

Because of the discovery, stormwater and repaving prep work will keep the construction sites closed.

Round rock tends to shift easily, Marion Barnes, spokesperson for the City of Eugene Public Works, said in a statement. This compromises the stability of the roadway and must be replaced. Current street construction includes the use of rougher aggregate rock that doesn't shift.

Eleventh Avenue will be closed starting April 22 between High Alley and Pearl Street and is expected to reopen by April 26.

On April 29, Pearl Street will be closed for three weeks between Broadway and 10th Avenue. Southbound traffic will be rerouted to Willamette Street during the closure.

Businesses in the area have reportedly been notified of the road work and will continue to receive weekly updates on its progress.

Drivers should follow posted detour routes, slow down and watch out for workers and equipment, said Barnes.

After the round rock is mitigated, Pearl Street will reopen to traffic during the day. Paving of Oak and Pearl Streets will occur at night to lessen the impact to businesses and community members, which will start in mid-June and continue until the end of July.

"The City recognizes that street closures are inconvenient and challenging to the community, especially considering multiple projects are underway," said Barnes. "However, the final outcome — a freshly repaved street and walking improvements — are beneficial to all road users and residents of Eugene.

Haleigh Kochanski is a breaking news and public safety reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at HKochanski@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Pearl Street construction to go longer after 85-year-old material found