Monday marked the first day of the redesign work at the intersection of First Avenue and Willis Avenue in Perry, but that was not the only location witnessing crews busy at work.
Workers were also busily conducting repairs on the bridge spanning Beaver Creek along Highway 169. The bridge will temporarily be reduced to one lane while work progresses. Currently the eastern lane is open; when work on the western half of the bridge is completed, workers will switch which lane handles traffic. Access across the bridge is being controlled by traffic lights until the project is finished. As part of the project, the eastern end of 130th Street has been closed at M Avenue.
Construction projects along Willis Avenue at both West Second Street and between 10th and 12th Street (the former school site) is also progressing.
The redesign of the busiest intersection in Perry — the crossing of First and Willis Avenues — will take a few months. During the first phase, traffic traveling either direction along First Avenue and those driving eastbound on West Willis should note the intersection is controlled by a three-way stop sign, and officials urge caution and for motorists to be aware of the presence of workers.
While the westbound lane of Willis Avenue has been closed at the intersection with Second Street, the lane normally reserved for eastbound traffic has been left open, allowing vehicles to access parking along Railroad Street between the Carnegie Library and Museum and the Perry Public Library. As a part of the closure of the 1400 block of Willis Avenue, the drop off area for the Hotel Pattee has been moved to the alley north of the hotel.
