Prineville and Crook county officials hope to install a center median on Third Street between Prineville City Hall and the Crook County Courthouse by spring to make it safer for pedestrians to cross.

The Prineville City Council recently OK’d a design for a block-long median that would be built along Third Street where the center turn lane currently exists. The median would run between Court and Dunham streets, which flank Prineville City Hall.

The median would have a center crosswalk to allow pedestrians to cross Third Street safely to and from the courthouse to the community plaza next to City Hall. There would be another crosswalk in front of the City Hall entrance.

Prineville Public Works Director Jim Mole said the center median will protect foot traffic on the civic block.

”It’s proven that the medians do improve pedestrian safety because it makes it that they have a safe haven in the middle of the street,” he said.

The curbs at the Dunham and Court streets intersections would also be extended about 5 to 6 feet so pedestrians are not blocked from a driver’s view by a parked car.

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Once the median is built, eastbound drivers would no longer be able to turn left onto Dunham Street, which sits between 7-Eleven and City Hall, said Mole. But drivers would still be able to turn right and left into the 7-Eleven parking lot, he said. And westbound drivers would still be able to turn right onto Dunham Street, he said.

The project is expected to cost between $80,000 and $90,000, Mole said. The Oregon Department of Transportation is considering paying for half of the costs because Third Street is part of a state highway. Highway 26 becomes Third Street as it threads through downtown Prineville. The city and Crook County would split the rest of the tab, Mole said.

Once the funding is settled, Mole hopes to complete the project by this spring. He plans to keep traffic moving on that portion of Third Street during construction instead of rerouting it. The city would create makeshift lanes through the on-street parking spaces, he said. There would still be on-street parking after the center median is built, he said.

The pedestrian improvements were originally considered in a 1997 downtown enhancement plan, but the project fizzled because of lack of funding.

Installing the center median became a high priority after a driver for Qwest Communications hit Ron Kleinschmit, a consultant for the city, as he was crossing Third at the Dunham Street intersection in August. Kleinschmit was crossing near 7-Eleven and the Prineville Police Department. He is still at home recovering.

Mole, the public works director, said Third Street should remain a two-way street after the median is built. The speed limit is also expected to remain at 20 mph, and Mole said he hoped the median would keep motorist speed in check.

”I think that’s an acceptable speed, if people behave themselves,” Mole said.

Prineville City Manager Robb Corbett said the city needs to work out how to redirect parade routes that run along Third Street once the median is completed. There are at least three parades a year that block off Third Street. City officials have discussed moving those parades routes to Fourth Street, he said.