Jul 27, 2016 2 min read

A storage tank uncovered beneath a South Main Street sidewalk halted progress of the final phase of Washington’s streetscape improvements, but the project is expected to conclude on schedule.

According to Lynn Galluze, city computer systems coordinator, the tank will be removed next week and work will continue as planned. Because the age and contents of the tank are unknown, it will be removed in an environmentally safe manner.

Completed in 2008, the first two phases of downtown revitalization were funded by federal, state and local grants. The $17 million price tag included burying overhead utility wires, lighting, new sidewalks and curbs, and trees and signs in the business district along North and South Main Street.

The third phase, being carried out by Baianco Construction, is on South Main Street, from Railroad Street to Park Avenue, and includes new sidewalks, lighting, and stormwater inlet and pipe improvements to alleviate flooding. New traffic signals will be installed at the intersections of South Main and South streets and South Main and Park Avenue. Parking on the east side of South Main is unavailable during the project. All work is scheduled to conclude by the end of November.

Phase three comes eight years after completion of the first two phases because of a lack of funding.

Early this year, about $1.3 million was secured through the Local Share Account, the state Department of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Businesses will remain open,” said Galluze. “Nothing is closing. (Crews) will try to be as thoughtful as possible to the impacted businesses and customers.”

Signs will be placed alerting customers to changes in parking.