(1/1) Completion of the Main Street Square Revitalization and sidewalk project is finally on the horizon. With an originally slated completion date in the spring of 2018, and an official unveiling and dedication planned for this past fall, residents are eager to see the project in its entirety finally complete, even though it is a few months behind schedule.

This Main Street Revitalization project included an upgrade to the existing sidewalks and crosswalks, the reconstruction of parking on the square, the reconstruction of sidewalk ramps which will now be ADA compliant, a reconstruction of the curbs, gutters and the traffic signal, resurfacing the intersection, landscaping and street tree replacement. The completed project offers connectivity of sidewalks from the east point of Silo Hills Road to the west point of the town with ADA compliant sidewalks. The redesigned square hosts four less parking spaces; a decision made years ago in order to ensure pedestrian safety and encourage community access via walking throughout town. "We wanted to make the square more pedestrian friendly by making connections, via the sidewalks, to all areas of town," stated Mayor Don Briggs. The new square also showcases brickwork in the location of the original fountain in the Town Square.

Delays to the completion of the project are mainly due to weather and the need to find a new company to complete some of the work, i.e. the installation of the new traffic signal. The contractor is in the final stages of finishing some items on the "punch list" including landscaping, pouring steps and miscellaneous brickwork throughout town.

According to Mayor Briggs, the official unveiling of the square will most likely be planned for the spring, warmer weather pending. The town still hopes to coordinate with Mount St. Mary’s University to dedicate the clock on the square and will also be extending the invitation to the Governor. As long as all the items are finished in a timely manner, the square should be complete by the end of December.

Work on Flat Run Bridge, on the other hand, has been further delayed. Phase 1 of the project was intended to be complete by the fall, allowing traffic running in two lanes on the new structure while the second phase of the structure is torn down and the rest of the structure is completed. However, according to town staff, the lane shift won’t happen until the first or second week of January. As soon as the contractor prepares the bridge deck, and asphalt is laid down, the work can then shift to phase 2.

Consistently delayed work on this project has caused frustration for residents of the community, who note lack of seen work by the contractors. Weather, drainage and water line issues have caused several delays to this project, which seems to be pushed back even further now. However, the contractor has recently placed four beams for stage 1 construction, completed pouring diaphragms for the new bridge and is currently working on roadway excavation for stage 1 in prep for switching traffic lanes. Work, though slow, seems to be getting done.

Flat Run Bridge may still be complete by late fall/early winter of 2019.