For those of us who drive downtown on a regular basis, the ongoing street construction can’t end soon enough.
In the most recent development, the contractor closed parking on the south side of the 100 block of East High Street this week, along with eastbound traffic going from Jefferson Street to Madison Street. This will allow the contractor to finish removing and replacing all sidewalks on the south side.
After that, the work zone will move once again, this time to the north side of the 100 block of East High Street. That will open south-side parking and eastbound traffic, but close the north-side parking lane and the westbound traffic, which runs from Madison to Jefferson streets.
Then, next Monday, the 300 block of Madison will be closed between High Street and Wall Way so a new electrical system can be installed. That should take place before the end of the month.
Also Monday, the 200 block of Madison between High and the city parking garage will close for the reconstruction of that area.
Even then, the project isn’t over. More work on High Street will be done before the streets are milled, overlaid and re-striped.
Part of the reason for the project is to pull up bricks and railroad ties below the surface that have caused an uneven surface.
Just reading what’s left to be done is exhausting, so we understand that downtown workers, visitors and business owners feel like the project is testing their patience.
But we — and likely everyone involved with the project — urge you to continue that patience. Drive slowly in the area, pay attention to signage and make sure to yield to pedestrians. The project throws both drivers and pedestrians off their normal routine, so everyone needs to look out for one another.
Your patience will be rewarded with new, smooth (and level) downtown streets.
And if you think this project is taking a long time, just go a block or two away to the Capitol, which is undergoing a three-year renovation.
News Tribune