Construction to bring cars back to Main Street between Chippewa and Mohawk streets is in full swing. The total cost to return two-way traffic to this stretch of Main Street is about $21 million. The new Fountain Plaza light rail station is also taking shape. It will be substantially smaller than the tinkertoy looking stations that were torn down, have a more modern design, and offer better protection from the elements.
The Main Street work includes the installation of new curbs, sidewalks, street lighting, traffic signals, on-street parking, light rail station enhancement, and various landscaping improvements which includes trees, planters, and benches. Mohawk Street will be reopened to traffic between Washington and Pearl.
At the same time, the $8 million effort to bring cars to the 600 Block of Main Street, between Tupper and Chippewa in the Theater District, is wrapping up. This will be the first block that vehicular traffic will be returned to Main and will share the track bed with the LRRT. It includes the installation of bike lanes, 45 parking spaces, five loading zones and 49 street trees and 22 planters. In addition, new light and sign poles will be installed. The road is expected to open in early fall.
Both projects complement and continue the streetscape theme of the $2.2 million 700 block redevelopment project that brought immediate private sector investment when completed in 2009.