South Main work to halt over winter
A South Main Street revitalization project is behind schedule, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, said Washington Councilman Ken Westcott, who expects work on the east side of the street to conclude in time for Thanksgiving.
“It’s important for property owners to bring this thing to completion,” Westcott said.
Locals – business proprietors, specifically – have been frustrated by the last phase of the streetscape project, which extends from Railroad Street to Park Avenue, and includes new sidewalks and lighting, stormwater management and upgraded utility lines.
Progress was delayed after contractor Baianco Construction unearthed a storage tank, a 100-year-old terra cotta culvert, trolley lines and gas lines. A broken water main further delayed headway.
The entire project was scheduled to be complete in November. Now, said Westcott, work will conclude on the east side of the street in the next few weeks, and work on the west side will be suspended over the winter and commence in spring.
The $1.3 million project also involves installation of traffic signals at the intersections of South Main Street and Park Avenue and South Main Street and South Street, where the entrance of Chapman Corporation, 331 S. Main St., will be moved to align with the newly created junction.
Traffic signals will be the final element of the project.
Renee Gregg, owner of Nunnie’s Place at the Southside, 352 S. Main St., worries that she’ll be forced to close her restaurant and bar because construction is causing her to lose customers. Two of her entrances could not be accessed while sidewalks were installed. Conditions have improved slightly since one of the entrances was complete, but the bar entrance is still out, and business is still slow.
“It really hasn’t picked up,” Gregg said.
Bobby Fowler, general manager of the newly renamed Three Guys Pizza and Pasta, 374 S. Main St., said business still hasn’t recovered since construction started. He said his uncles, the former owners, sold more than a month ago.
“It’s picking up a little bit. We’ve released a whole new menu. But it’s still down,” said Fowler. “We got a bunch of advertising going out, but we’re not where we used to be. People think we’re being torn down.”
A portion of the building’s brick facade was removed because it was not attached to the structure. Westcott said bids will be put out to reconstruct a portion of the wall and to re-side the building. The bar entrance to Nunnie’s Place should be done soon, he said.
Parking for both businesses is available on South Street.
Traffic will continue to be controlled by flaggers as curbs are installed.