Empire Blvd. (Cape Arago Highway) will be closed from Newmark Ave. to Fulton Ave. between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, June 28-30. The daytime closures of this eight-block section of Empire Blvd. will allow workers to pave the northbound lane. The southbound lane will be used for staging each of the three days, but will be open at night. Motorists traveling either direction between Coos Bay and Charleston are advised to detour through Marple Street and Fulton Avenue. Flaggers will be posted at several locations along the detour route. After the grinding and paving work is completed, this section of Empire Blvd. will be limited to a single lane of southbound traffic for several weeks. Northbound motorists will continue to use the Marple-Fulton detour. Access to local businesses will be limited while the grinding and paving work is underway next week. Customers visiting the Espresso Mill & Bakery (520 S. Empire Blvd.) and Fisherman’s Seafood Market (170 S. Empire Blvd.) are encouraged to park on a nearby side street and walk the short distance to either business. Empire Blvd. residents are also advised to park on side streets while paving work is in progress. During construction, motorists will be able to use Newmark Ave. to reach the Empire boat ramp. ODOT and the City of Coos Bay are partnering on the construction of the $5 million Empire Blvd: Newmark Ave. to Wisconsin Ave. Street Improvements project. Construction began in January and is expected to be completed in October.
