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The Warsaw Street Department began preparing for curb reconstruction on the north side of Market Street today.
The project will include removing the current curb and reconstructing a new curb along the north and south sides of Market Street.
Workers set up equipment and signs this morning.
The project also will include planting trees, flowers and planters 3 to 4 feet from the curb along Market Street. New benches, trash cans and tri-globe lights also will be part of the project.
The westbound lane along Market Street will be closed while the north-side curb reconstruction is completed. One lane of traffic along the street will be open.
Parking will not be allowed on the north side of Market Street to prevent citizens from walking into holes.
"We are asking for people's patience and know the project may be an inconvenience, but will try to get work completed as quickly as possible," Street Superintendent Lacy Francis said.
Francis said he hopes to leave the sidewalks open as much as possible.
The project is part of the city's downtown rehabilitation project stemming from the HyettPalma Inc. study that was put into the city's budget in 2001. The company is a national firm specializing in the economic renaissance of downtowns and older business districts. HyettPalma Inc., based in Virginia, studies communities and recommends a course of action for private and public sectors.
Similar projects previously were completed along Center and Buffalo streets.
The project costs approximately $200,000 and should take no more than 90 days to complete, weather permitting, Francis said.
Francis said Market Street will be repaved during the 90-day project period once the curb and planter projects are completed.
The street will be closed at that time.
"We usually try to get these types of projects completed early spring or summer, but started later than expected because we were waiting for grants," Francis said.
He said the project should be completed before leaf season and cold weather comes.
