Staff writer
Work needed to repair damaged pavement in the 100 block of S. 3rd St. required a traffic detour this week as streetscape remodeling continued along the south side of Main St.
Pavement just south of the intersection of Main and 3rd Sts. started crumbling during efforts to remodel Main St. at that intersection. A shallow pothole grew deeper and wider.
City administrator Roger Holter said the weight of heavy vehicles using the road caused the pavement to crumble.
Traffic was detoured east along Williams to 4th Sts. and west along Water to 1st Sts.
Holter said city crews expect to complete work and have the intersection open by Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, streetscape work on the south side of Main St has progressed to the 400 block, next to Central Park. Work on the north side of the street will begin next.
Remodeling efforts will include new vintage-style light poles, buried power lines, sidewalks, and modified curb cuts and crosswalks.
Planters, waste bins, and benches will be added, and accessible entries for downtown businesses will be created to comply with federal law.
A raised edge of a parking lot at 1st St. south of Webster Auto Service will get a makeover to change it into a retaining wall where people can sit.