Medford residents, brace yourselves for some traffic tangles in early February. If your commute includes Skypark Drive, King Street, Dusk Circle, or Royal Avenue, you'll want to plan some extra time or find an alternative route. Medford Water Commission is in the business of relocating fire hydrants from February 3 through February 15, which means intermittent lane and sidewalk closures between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. details on the work on the City of Medford official website indicate closures on Skypark Drive from Whittle Avenue to American Way, on King Street from Catherine Street to Belmont Street, and on Dusk Circle.
But wait, there's more. Hunter Communications is upgrading fibers, which means more flaggers and intermittent closures on Royal Avenue from Spring Street to Stevens Street during the same period. Also dealing with water issues, Black Oak Drive from Acorn Way to E Main Street will see similar disruptions as Medford Water Commission gets down to the business of repairing a water valve. All the while, the folks in Aerial Heights Drive will experience closures and construction equipment as city crews work on grading for a couple of days, February 3 and 4, with the workday stretching from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
And it doesn't end there. W. McAndrews Road is also getting some TLC with bridge repairs necessitating lane closures on February 5 and 6 between N. Central Avenue and Sage Road. Once more, this is a job with a 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. timeframe. You can almost hear the collective groan of daily commuters pondering the delays and detours that surely lay ahead.
City officials are urging the public to be patient and cooperate to ensure the safety of work zones scattered across Medford. They've also put out the reminder that all these activities are subject to the whims of weather and other unpredictable factors. So, if you're planning on driving through these areas, it'd be a good idea to keep an eye on updates and adjust your plans accordingly. Your daily journey might just get a bit longer or take you down paths less traveled—for a limited time, at least.
