City moves forward with Nifong Boulevard improvement project

The City of Columbia is working to make both Nifong and Forum boulevards safer.

A public hearing on the Nifong Boulevard Corridor Improvement project was held at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. The council voted to move forward with final plans.

The project would add two driving lanes, bike lanes, sidewalks and intersection improvements to Nifong boulevard, between Willowcreek lane and Providence, and Forum boulevard, between Green Meadows and Nifong. The changes, which will cost $12.3 million, are expected to improve traffic flow and safety.

Consulting firm EFK Moen completed a traffic study on the corridor in November. They set up cameras to look at traffic flow and found significant issues with safety and congestion.

“The drivers are trying to be assertive to get into the road and when they do that, they’re not looking for all the pedestrians or the other road users out there,” project consultant Ben Ross said.

Construction on the entire project is expected to begin in the spring of 2020. A consultant said the project would take about a year, and the plan is to keep one lane open through the work area.