Construction on The Square and Oak Street Improvements Project will start January 6.
The work, awarded by the County to Faulconer Construction for $1,637,500, is expected to be complete by fall.
Traffic patterns between The Square, Oak Street (which connects The Square to Library Avenue), and Library Avenue will shift with each stage of construction (see the accompanying map), and all businesses in proximity will remain open and accessible. Expect to encounter intermittent lane closures and flagging.
The work will upgrade the stormwater system, enhance drainage, improve handicapped accessibility and sidewalks, create more marked parking spaces and update signage. The Square will get a new sidewalk in front of existing businesses and perpendicular parking on both sides of the road. Oak Street will get a sidewalk on the west side and perpendicular parking on the east side.
The intersection of The Square and Crozet Avenue will be converted into a right-turn-only intersection. No left turns will be allowed from The Square onto Crozet Avenue or from Crozet Avenue onto The Square. Southbound vehicles on Crozet Avenue will reach The Square by way of Library Avenue and Oak Street.
Construction will begin with improvements to Oak Street. In March, work is anticipated to move to the section of The Square between Oak Street and the alley between Crozet Hardware and New China restaurant. By May, work should focus on the section from the alley to Crozet Avenue. June will see the construction of the sidewalks in front of the businesses and final paving and signage should wrap up in August.
