All of Jefferson Street downtown will be open again this week, but only for a few days.
Crews are finishing work on the third phase of the rebuilding project, between Main Street and Home Avenue. That section of the road is set to open Friday, according to the city.
But as soon as Monday, work is set to begin on the next phase of the project between Home Avenue to the railroad crossing, which will close that section of the street.
The $12 million project is rebuilding the key downtown route from U.S. 31 to Interstate 65. Crews also are adding new sidewalks, decorative lighting and landscaping.
Crews have been doing the work in sections to try to have the least impact on traffic and downtown businesses.
The third phase of the project began in July, with Jefferson Street closing to traffic from North Main Street to Home Avenue.
When that section reopens this week, crews will still be working on new sidewalks, meaning street parking will be closed until that work is done. Officials expect that work to be done by the end of the month, according to the city.
Next up, get ready for the next section east to close, from Home Avenue to the railroad crossing. Home Avenue is set to remain open. That work is set to be completed by mid-November.
Starting as soon as Monday, depending on the weather, that section of the road will close, and traffic will detour around it using Home Avenue, Monroe Street and Branigin Boulevard.
When the fourth section is completed this year, construction will take a break until the spring, when crews are set to move to King Street, closing the road between Middleton Drive and Eastview Drive. That section will include a new roundabout at King Street and Eastview Drive.
