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A long anticipated project aimed at fortifying the communal nature of Downtown Danville with safety improvements and enhanced community gathering areas is set to begin coming to fruition early next month, with the construction process aimed at preventing business closures and minimizing traffic impacts.
Town officials announced March 8 that construction on the Downtown Master Plan Catalyst Project is set to commence the first week of April, with most work scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Construction on the project comes following years of planning and discussions – plus $4.1 million in funding – that kicked off following the highest priority needs ranked in the town’s 2022 Downtown Master Plan Update. Since then, town officials and community members have engaged in numerous discussions on how to improve the priority areas identified in that update, including pedestrian safety, increased spaces for community gathering, and enhancing arts and culture opportunities.
The first component of the project is set to consist of traffic mitigation and landscaping improvements at intersections along Hartz Avenue between School Street and Linda Mesa Avenue, as well as near the Village Theatre on Front Street and at Prospect Park Plaza. The first portion is set to be at the intersection of Church Street and Hartz Avenue, with construction estimated to be finished by late fall.
Construction will take place at one intersection at a time, with Hartz Avenue remaining open through the duration of the construction period until one overnight closure for paving at the end of the project. Lane narrowing and other adjustments to traffic could be implemented, however, according to town officials.
In addition, all businesses in the vicinity are set to remain open and accessible to the public during construction.
The Downtown Catalyst Project itself consists of nine components, and serves as the first phase of the Downtown Master Plan Update that was adopted in 2022 with the goal of reinvigorating and enhancing Danville’s historic downtown.
Following the planning process and approval of the final catalyst project, the town approved a $4.1 million bid from Grade Tech Inc. for construction services on the current phase of the project on Feb. 20 following a public bidding process.
Is there a map or other graphics that gives more details about the development?