Councilman: Worst is over with South Main project
Washington Councilman Ken Westcott said a downtown revitalization project has been a mess, but he expects that to change soon.
The third and final phase of Washington’s $1.3 million streetscape project – with stormwater management improvements, new sidewalks and traffic signal installation along South Main Street from Railroad Street to Park Avenue – was prolonged by unexpected issues. The removal of a fuel storage tank and old gas and water lines has pushed the anticipated November completion date back, traffic has stalled in the area and business owners are dealing with utility interruptions and fewer patrons.
But Westcott said now that new stormwater drains are in place, the project should be on the right track.
“I think at this point, everything should move smoothly,” Westcott said Monday. “The good thing is the other side of the road doesn’t get as much work, so it’s less intrusive. When they start working on the other side, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem. I don’t see the same traffic problems.”
Baianco Construction crews are scheduled to begin pouring curbs for sidewalks Sept. 26, with the expectation that sidewalks on the east side of the street will be done by mid-October.
“We’re doing the best we can. If you travel down there, please be patient,” said Westcott during a city council meeting Thursday.
Westcott said business owners should notice a difference when crews start on the west side of the street. But Renee Gregg, owner of Nunnie’s Place at the Southside, 352 S. Main St., isn’t optimistic. She said in August that she has not been kept informed by the city, and she’s losing customers as a result of South Street being closed and parking and walkways being disrupted. She worries her business will close as a result.
Westcott, head of the street department, said he has been communicating with property owners. Gregg, who said she has spoken to Westcott once, doesn’t think it’s enough.
“No one has said anything to us,” she said. “I’m frustrated. As a businesswoman, I’m frustrated.”