South Franklin Street Reconstruction

When Juneau’s downtown streets require reconstruction, the needs of construction and tourism collide. DOWL’s planning and design acumen for the South Franklin Street Reconstruction project maximized the value of improvements and minimized impacts on Juneau’s critical tourist traffic. Extensive public outreach resulted in contact with over 100 interested citizens who expressed the desire for better lighting, period-sensitive enhancements for the historical district, northwest art, and no impact to parking. The first two phases of construction replaced aging sidewalks built on top of business basements; a common occurrence when the city was established in the late 1800s. DOWL increased sidewalk width while maintaining road grade and drainage features in a very tight right-of-way between historical structures. New lighting uses LED technology in period-appropriate fixtures. DOWL partnered with native artists to create medallion sidewalk art that will guide tourists through the area, and the design accommodates closing the street for street-party-style celebrations. DOWL worked with the contractor to complete construction during the spring shoulder season and maintained extensive contact with area businesses to keep them apprised of the schedule and impacts.