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CONSTRUCTION THIS WEEK
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Update: The intersection of Maxwell and South Limestone opened Saturday, Oct. 10, almost a week ahead of schedule. Crews replaced aging sewers and installed conduit for underground utilities.
Continuing the week of Oct. 12th: South Limestone Street is closed to thru traffic from Avenue of Champions to Vine Street. Northbound motorists on Nicholasville Road (Limestone) who normally use Limestone to commute downtown should follow the detour signs that identify a detour at Virginia Avenue to South Broadway. Westbound motorists on Euclid (Avenue of Champions) can take Martin Luther King Boulevard to Main Street. Northbound motorists should plan on delays. For detour maps, click here
Business Note: South Limestone businesses remain open. Pedestrian access will be maintained in the area. There is access for local traffic (residents, employees, customers of businesses and for deliveries) along the corridor. Customer parking can be found on side streets and lots surrounding the area. Customers of South Limestone businesses may also utilize metered street parking along Warren Court and Chrysalis Court (35 spots available). Customers may access both streets by turning onto South Limestone from Maxwell Street. Customers may exit onto South Limestone and then turn left onto High Street. To view the parking map, click here
Traffic flow update: Parking is available along Jersey Street and there is also access to many of the South Limestone businesses from Jersey Street.
WHY?
Mayor Jim Newberry announced that work would start on Wednesday, July 22, on the reconstruction of South Limestone. The goal of the project is to more closely link the University of Kentucky campus and, eventually, Transylvania University to downtown.
The work on South Limestone Street, between the Avenue of Champions and Vine Street, is expected to take approximately one year. During that time different portions of the corridor will be closed for significant periods.
This project is part of Phase 1 of the Council-adopted Streetscape Master Plan , which features curbside rain gardens, new storm and sanitary sewers, water features, wider sidewalks, bike lanes and underground utilities, among other amenities. Development of the plan included extensive public input. Essentially, the plan provides the infrastructure to allow our downtown area to continue to become more vibrant.
The plan grew out of a 2002 study that encouraged Lexington to improve the interaction between the downtown area and the two universities by encouraging students, faculty and staff to come downtown. Clearly, a key step is making the city blocks that separate downtown and the two campuses more pedestrian and bike friendly.
Phase 1 of the master plan includes the work on South Limestone, work on a portion of Main and Vine streets and in Cheapside Park for the Farmers Market.
The city started with South Limestone because it is the most complicated project. Mayor Newberry has encouraged the entire community to be patient and cooperative as the work progresses. It will be especially hard for the people who live or work on the Limestone corridor. The Mayor called for all citizens to support the South Limestone businesses, which will remain accessible for pedestrians. The city is working on improving parking availability.
Since it is critically important that those who are directly affected remain involved as the project moves forward, Mayor Newberry has appointed the Limestone Reconstruction Commission, made up of South Limestone business owners, property owners, and residents.
For more information on the South Limestone project call LexCall 3-1-1 (425-2255).
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