NEWS

South Park Place construction to begin Monday

Kent Mallet and

NEWARK – Downtown construction will hit the Square on Monday, marking the start of the second phase of the city of Newark’s $18.9 million project to install storm and sanitary sewers downtown.

Construction work on South Park Place will likely continue into late November, said Joe Hickman, project manager.

“For the first week or so it’ll be challenging,” Hickman said. “People should go to work a little bit earlier or if they have an appointment leave a little bit earlier.

“We ask for their patience and understanding and to watch construction updates (online),” he added. “I’m confident, after the first couple of weeks, everyone will fall into a new routine.”

Construction updates can be checked at www.wedignewark.com or www.newarkohio.net.

The second phase of the storm and sanitary sewer installation downtown will close down vehicle traffic on South Park Place and the small strip of South Second Street that runs between East Main and South Park.

South Second Street between South Park Place and East Walnut — the first phase of the project — has been reopened to vehicle traffic. The segment of the road has been paved and striped, and final details of light poles, planters, and mulch will be added soon, Hickman said.

Pedestrians will still be able to access sidewalks on South Park Place, so businesses can still be visited during construction, Hickman said.

The second phase will include South Park Place and the roundabout at the intersection of South Second and South Park, said Fred Ernest, director of Newark Development Partners.

Ernest added that the Wendy’s drive-thru will be maintained for a majority of the upcoming months, with access likely from East Main Street instead of South Second Street.

To help with the transition, Hickman said, detours will be posted to help route drivers around the Square.

To accommodate a loss of parking downtown on South Park Place, spaces will be added to South Third Street. Northbound through traffic will not be possible on Third Street between South Park Place and Market Street so the parking spaces can be used.

“We may well modify parking and detours daily, especially in the first week or two,” Hickman said.

The storm and sanitary sewer installation project is scheduled to continue until the spring of 2017.

“It will be some time before the entire Square opens up, and when it does, it will be completely different,” Hickman said.

kmallett@newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8545

Twitter: @kmallett1958

abisaro@gannett.com

740-328-8822

Twitter: @abisaro_NEW

Stay in the loop

Visit www.wedignewark.com or www.newarkohio.net for construction updates, parking information, and detours.