Franklin Avenue and Maple Avenue Streetscape Improvements Project

Project typeNeighborhood Beautification, Safety, and Complete Street Improvements
Project value$3.3 Million
Contractor nameParamount Construction, LLC.
Completion DateMarch 31, 2023

Franklin Ave - Perspective - Intersection

The Franklin Avenue and Maple Avenue Streetscape Improvements Project will create a gateway into the Maple Avenue and South End Neighborhoods. It enhances transit access, streetscape amenities, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. The amenities and infrastructure improvements encompassed in this streetscape project include new sidewalks, ornamental streetlights, raised landscaped medians, flush decorative center turn lanes, decorative crosswalks, designated bike lanes, new granite curbing, roadway mill and overlay, street trees, landscaping, and minor traffic signal modifications.

The existing curb to curb width of the roadway will be maintained on Maple Avenue from Retreat Avenue but the resurfaced roadway will be restriped to accommodate conventional bike lanes and added traffic calming measures such as reduced lane widths. The intersection of Franklin Avenue and Maple Avenue will see the greatest complete street transformation with bump-outs to reduce the roadway pavement area and pedestrian crossing distance and off-street bicycle paths through the intersection. Franklin Avenue will be widened by approximately 2’ on each side to accommodate buffered bike lanes on both sides between the parallel parking spaces and the curb. Another sidewalk bump-out, brick pattern decorative crosswalk, and push-button rapid flashing beacon will improve pedestrian safety when crossing Franklin Avenue at the Annawan Street intersection. The addition of benches and bus shelters at the bus stops within the project area will improve the transit user experience.

Initial design concepts and construction documents for this project were developed by Freeman Companies in coordination with the Department of Public Works, the City Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Maple Avenue Revitalization Group (MARG), and Senator Richard Fonfara.