City Engineer Wade Phillips said the Goblin Drive project is going well. On Friday, workers placed a compacted base at the north end of Goblin Drive, preparing to add curb, gutter, and pavement. A portion of the 10-foot sidewalk on the east side of Goblin Dr., which will eventually become part of a wider trail network, has been completed. In the future, the schools on Goblin Dr. will be connected to the downtown area by the trail system. The west side of Goblin will also have a sidewalk except through Baker Prairie. Sidewalks are not being constructed on the west side to reduce the impact on the prairie, but there will be a pedestrian crossing at Burls Way to provide safe access to the prairie on the west side of the road.
Crouse Construction is currently grading the areas in front of the Middle School and at the new roundabout on Burls Way. The roundabout will be single-lane and is sized to accommodate bus traffic; drivers will have two options: turn onto Burls Way or continue on Goblin Dr. “Roundabouts take up a lot of room, especially when we design them to be large enough for buses to maneuver safely,” Phillips said. “But they make for lower long-term maintenance and cost than traffic signals and are overall safer for drivers and pedestrians.” He is optimistic that construction through Baker Prairie and the first roundabout will be finished this Fall, so the currently closed section can be reopened to traffic.
“We are excited to widen Goblin Drive and make it more accessible and safe for all drivers. I’m really excited we were able to keep this project local with Crouse Construction receiving the bid. They are doing a great job. At times, progress is painful, but the community has been great in realizing this need and cooperating with the detours.
The overall project is projected to be completed before the first day of school in 2026.
