Pedestrians walking by construction on East 13th Avenue must cross the street and use the sidewalk on the south side or face fines from the Department of Public Safety.
The construction zone, located between Huestis and Oregon halls, currently has no sidewalk. Signs and arrows instruct pedestrians to cross the street or risk a $75 fine for walking in the road.
DPS Lt. Herb Horner said the current situation there compares to the construction of the Living and Learning Center on East 15th Avenue last year, when the department issued about 15-20 tickets for pedestrians illegally walking in the road.
Horner said an officer has been directing foot traffic everyday, and he will soon begin to issue tickets when new City of Eugene signs display the risk of a fine.
“We’re giving everyone the benefit of the doubt,” Horner said. “It’s a huge hole. We don’t want anyone getting near it.”
The construction site, the future home of a multi-million dollar underground research facility associated with Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI), will be closed for at least a year, Horner said.
Horner also said bicyclists should remember to dismount and walk their bikes through the EMU breezeway to avoid receiving a ticket.
-Lindsay Funston