Northeast Seventh Street in Newport has seen major construction the past few weeks as tree roots were torn out, new pavement laid and curb and sidewalks poured. The project is a part of an effort to bring pedestrian, bicycle and traffic safety improvements near schools. (Shayla Escudero/Lincoln Chronicle)

The city of Newport’s multimillion road project is making some changes students walking to Newport Middle School and parents dropping off their kids off this fall are going to notice.

The large tree trunks underneath the road have been removed, there’s a smooth layer of new asphalt, and there’s more sidewalk than there used to be.

**A paver smooths asphalt along Northeast Seventh Street in front of Newport Middle School.** (Shayla Escudero/Lincoln Chronicle)

Northeast Harney Street from U.S. Highway 20 to Northeast Seventh Street has seen major construction this summer. The project is a part of an effort to bring pedestrian, bicycle and traffic safety improvements near schools, making it easier for students to walk and bike to class. The project is funded through more than $1 million in grants from the Oregon Department of Transportation “Safe Routes to School” program, with additional $1.9 million from Newport’s urban renewal agency.

The project includes extension of the sidewalk along the west side of Northeast Harney Street from Northeast Seventh Street along the county Commons property to U.S. Highway 20; improved bicycle lanes; new and enhanced crosswalks; accessibility ramps; additional signs and safety features for vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists; stormwater line improvements, and new pavement.

Construction is expected to finish before school begins in September with most major construction wrapping up at the end of August.

After this project is done, ODOT will replace the outdated traffic lights, upgrade signal technology, and add a left turn lane on Harney Street’s intersection with U.S. Highway 20 in a $4.7 million project expected to start next spring.