Blog: What is with this (expletive) construction?

(Credit: Amber Arnold / News-Leader)

By Kerry Trotter

Driving Downtown has somehow become a voyage to a "Tron"-like netherworld, replete with the confusion that comes with navigating a labrynthian, dimension-busting terrain, but minus the retro-hip "special effects" and Jeff Bridges.

What in the hell are they doing down there anyway? Apart from feeling sorry for myself when I forget which streets are no-gos and wind up cussing and pulling a 12-point turn on Olive, I feel sorry for the businesses on those streets that have just had to bid adieu to all that great pass-through traffic. When is this all letting up? Thanks to an email from Kathryn at the Downtown Springfield Association, we now know a little bit more. Check it:

"PARK CENTRAL SQUARE:  This week, the contractor will be removing old concrete pavement and replace with new concrete pavement on South Avenue from the Square to McDaniel.  They will also get both of the intersections at the south and the east connections to the square done this week.  They will be pouring the red pedestrian area on the northwest corner this week.  When all of this is complete, and the concrete tested (five days after concrete is poured), the entire quadrant from South Avenue to Park Central East will be open. WE ANTICIPATE THIS TO OCCUR BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK, AUGUST 7.  After that, each remaining approach to the square will be completed and then the square pavement in between will be completed.  EXPECTED DATE FOR ALL WORK TO BE DONE IS SEPTEMBER 15, 2009.
MCDANIEL STREET, SOUTH AVENUE TO CAMPBELL AVENUE:  The north side of the street is complete and work has begun on the south side.  When done the south side sidewalks will match the south side from Patton Avenue to Campbell.  EXPECTED DATE TO COMPLETE PROJECT IS THIS FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2009.
 
JEFFERSON AVENUE, OLIVE STREET TO ST. LOUIS STREET:  City Utilities contractor started work July 20, to replace a leaking water main near the middle of Jefferson Avenue.  They attempted twice to make smaller repairs, but the main is in such poor condition that the entire block had to be replaced.  Once the water main is replaced the street will be resurfaced and opened to two full lanes of traffic.  EXPECTED DATE TO RE-OPEN IS AUGUST 7, 2009
 
RESURFACING OF MARKET AVENUE, COLLEGE TO MCDANIEL & OLIVE STREET, CAMPBELL TO MARKET: This project will complete the surface work for the College Station Development.  The work will take one day.  We do not have a schedule from the contractor at this time.  EXPECTED DATE OF RESURFACING IS IN AUGUST, 2009."

So what does all this mean exactly? Well, that we're sort of screwed for the time being. And that we should be riding our bikes more.

(Courtesy of Kathryn Vicat-Dlabach at the Downtown Springfield Association)