Street work begins
By From staff reports
Published in News on May 15, 2012 1:46 PM
Full Size
News-Argus/TY JOHNSON
Workers scrape up the pavement of the southbound lane of Center Street between Mulberry and Ash streets this morning, exposing fresh asphalt below. The 200 north block of Center Street will be closed during construction on the Center Street Streetscape project, which is expected to conclude Oct. 15.
Work on the Center Street Streetscape project began Monday morning and will continue for the foreseeable future as Daniels and Daniels Construction begins the project to renovate downtown's main street between Mulberry and Ash streets.
The construction will prevent traffic from entering the 200 north block of Center Street where City Hall is located from the north at the traffic circle and from the south at the Mulberry Street intersection.
Citizens wishing to access City Hall or Pet Village on the east side of the street can park in City Hall's rear parking lot or along Mulberry Street. Direct Carpet customers can park along Ash Street. Access to the Little Bank parking lot on the west side of Center Street will remain open throughout construction.
Construction is scheduled to conclude Oct. 15.
The Streetscape project has emerged as the city's signature downtown revitalization project after years of discussion. First a part of the city's downtown master plan, city officials determined it best to perform the renovations in phases, beginning with the 200 north block of Center Street.
The project calls for the renovation of the 200 north block of Center Street by widening the sidewalks and median and creating a path between the roads as well as planting new trees to replace the aging holly trees.
The City Council approved the project in a 4-3 decision March 9 in a vote that awarded the $1.3 million contract to Daniels and Daniels.