LaSalle Avenue Streetscape

Hired by the South Bend Board of Public Works, JPR designed and engineered nearly 1-mile of streetscape along LaSalle Avenue, stretching east across the St. Joseph River from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to Eddy Street.

The JPR team guided the client and representatives of various City departments through the design process and provided a cost-effective solution to a new streetscape for the corridor. The proposed cross section included a reduction in vehicular travel lanes, additional traffic calming measures, and a separated bicycle track, along with new traffic signals and lighting. It also included additional on-street parking, updated utility services, street trees, widened pedestrian walkways, and dedicated crossings.

One of the biggest challenges our team had to overcome during this project was supply chain issues and cost increases seen during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. To combat this, the team explored different phasing options and key cost reduction strategies.

This project will act as the first phase in expanding the downtown streetscape east across the St. Joseph River, providing a critical gateway experience into the urban core and future connection to Notre Dame. At the project’s completion, the community will gain an updated, safe, and aesthetically pleasing main corridor into downtown South Bend.

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