News

Grey Mill-to-Main corridor to get new sidewalks, street lamps, brick crosswalks

City crews remove old sidewalk as part of the streetscape improvements on Fourth Avenue East from the new Grey Mill Apartments to Main Street.

By Lightning Reports, Published: November 5, 2019

Crews will begin work on a streetscape improvement of Fourth Avenue East this week as the opening of the new Grey Mill Apartments gets closer.

The plan for street repaving, new sidewalks, new stoplights, decorative street lamps with hanging baskets and brick paver crosswalks aims to make the corridor between Main Street and Grove Street more pedestrian friendly. The finished product, the city says, will result in a more walkable route linking Main Street and the Historic Seventh Avenue District and improved safety for those traveling through the intersection at Fourth and Grove — walking, bicycling or driving. The project will also involve stormwater improvements and electrical work.

New sidewalks will be installed on either side of Fourth Avenue East with accompanying decorative streetlamp lighting. Most of the concrete and electrical work is expected to be completed by the first of the year. Street resurfacing and the installation of streetlamps is set to follow in the spring. Narrowing the roadway and sidewalk between King and Grove will enable the city to add about six parallel parking spaces on the eastbound side of the avenue. Additionally, an esthetically pleasing and functional bioswale will be created to collect and filter stormwater.

The work will replace the current four-way stop at Fourth and Grove with a signalized traffic light with pedestrian walk signals. Pedestrian specific signals and upgraded curb ramps will improve accessibility to pedestrians using the intersection. The signal installation will most likely take place in the summer of 2020. Motorists and pedestrians can expect to see sidewalk closures, lane closures, and full street closures as varying stages of the project are completed. A part of the public-private partnership for the Grey Mill renovation, the streetscape work will be completed by city public works crews. For questions contact engineer Brendan Shanahan at bshanahan@hvlnc.gov.