The Main Street Improvement Project, also known as the North Main Street Improvement Project involves the stretch of Main Street beginning at College Avenue and extending to the intersection with Prices Fork Road. This half mile of road improvements will reduce the existing roadway from two lanes in each direction to one lane in each direction with a shared center lane for left turns. Additional improvements include replacing the current intersection at North Main Street and Prices Fork Road with a roundabout, pedestrian signals, street lighting, expanded sidewalk areas, and streetscape amenities in keeping with recommendations from the Downtown Master Plan. This project will extend the pedestrian friendly, inviting nature of the existing downtown area, all the way to Prices Fork Road.
Sidewalks along the College Avenue Extension in front of the Cellar Restaurant and extending up Main Street will be widened to more than ten feet to allow for activities such as outdoor dining and public gatherings. The streetscape will mirror that which is currently in the downtown corridor including brick sidewalks and modern black benches, landscape planters, trees, street lights, and trash receptacles. This area will also have a scenic seating and gathering space built across from the Alumni Mall.
The existing traffic signals at the College Avenue and Turner Street intersections will be replaced and a new traffic signal will be installed at the Alumni Mall intersection. These upgrades of existing signals and the addition of a new one will allow pedestrians to cross Main Street more safely.
The roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Prices Fork and North Main Street allowing for better traffic flow between North Main Street and Prices Fork. The roundabout also provides a gateway for entering into the downtown area while reducing vehicle delay and calming traffic.
Fun Facts
When complete, the Main Street Improvements will include:
- 115 New Street Trees
- 18 Trash Cans
- 14 Landscape Planters
- 7 Black Benches
- 116 Street Lights
- 130 Linear Feet of Seating Wall