Heads up: the ongoing reconstruction of an intersection on a major Richland street means you’ll need to find another way to work, at least for a couple of days. 

Beginning May 14, the private contractor making improvements to the intersection of Steptoe Street and Tapteal Drive will close Steptoe to thru traffic between Gage Boulevard and the Columbia Park Trail roundabout to remove and replace existing railroad tracks and signal infrastructure, according to a release. 

City officials said the closure is necessary to complete the work. 

“Steptoe Street is expected to reopen to traffic on the morning of Monday, May 18, though reopening could be impacted by site conditions,” the city said in a statement. 

Leslie Road and Center Parkway will serve as detour routes during the closure.  

The west end of Tapteal Drive will also remain closed, with traffic detoured via Center Parkway and Columbia Center Boulevard. 

A private developer is financing and conducting the roadwork to provide road access to commercial property on the west side of Steptoe Street. In the end, the project will realign Tapteal to intersect Steptoe further south at the railroad crossing, providing new traffic signal and pedestrian infrastructure.