Image: Google Street View

By this fall, Bracket Avenue will have fewer potholes and (probably) more bicycles. The Eau Claire City Council voted 11-0 Tuesday evening to rebuild one of Eau Claire’s busiest and bumpiest streets. The vote came after a public discussion Monday during which pro-pedaling advocates pushed for more bike-friendly features on Brackett, including the addition of bike lanes (or a multi-use path), the widening of sidewalks, and the narrowing of traffic lanes. However, several business representatives told the council that a narrower street would mean less vehicle traffic and less business.

In the end, an amendment to add bike lanes failed and the council OK’d the original proposal, which nonetheless includes several elements designed to help bicyclists. Among them are the addition of “sharrows” (painted portions of the street that remind drivers they must share the road with bicyclists) to Brackett; the installation of two “bike boxes” (painted areas of pavement that make it easier and safer for bicylists to wait at stoplights); more painted crosswalks; and the addition of a bicycle boulevard and the lowering of the speed limit to 20 mph on Valmont Avenue, which runs parallel to Brackett.

According to the Leader-Telegram, construction likely will start in mid-July and be done by early November. The reconstruction of Brackett Avenue and part of Harding Avenue – which will include sewers, water mains, sidewalks, traffic signals, etc. – will cost an estimated $3.4 million. Related projects on parts of nearby Kirk and Fairfax streets will cost another $637,000.