Businesses and residents along Little Gaetz Ave. should expect disruptions when the city begins Phase 2 of its revitalization project this year.
Ten people attended on Wednesday the second of two pre-construction meetings in which the city outlined its construction plans for the area between 46th and 48th Streets and 51 to 52 Street.
They heard Phase 2 will be more disruptive than Phase 1. Water main repairs will close the street, and the city will pipe other sources of water to residents and businesses.
Ron Warder, superintendent of environmental services with the city, said the work will cause vibrations, and he cautioned people about storing items on shelves. Pedestrian traffic will be allowed on both sides of the street, he added.
Businesses will be communicated to and the city will work with people that do find they are having problems stemming from the construction. The city’s downtown co-ordinator Charity Dyke said they will give people as much notice as possible when disruptive work is going to happen, including holding another pre-construction meeting with more detailed timelines.
The city expects construction to begin by early May and wrap up as late as early June. Streetscape improvement will start upon completion of the underground work.
Dyke said the city expects to finish all of the work on Little Gaetz this year.
“I think the important part for this meeting was to let people know how the communication will occur and what to expect as we start construction,” said Dyke. “We have a number of meetings coming up and that will be the time we can really give them detailed information on the impacts of construction.”
cpapke@www.reddeeradvocate.com