By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - One of the biggest inconveniences caused by the streetscape project began Monday with the closing of the intersection at Front and Main streets.
The busy intersection is being closed as construction begins to convert it into a "tabled intersection."
Niles Downtown Development Authority Director Lisa Croteau said the raised intersection will be similar to a "speed bump" on the way into downtown Niles to slow traffic and make the area more pedestrian friendly.
Assistant Public Works Director Joe Ray anticipates the intersection to be closed for about three weeks.
Traffic will be detoured to the Broadway bridge until the tabled intersection is complete. The Main Street bridge will remain open and provide access from the street into the city parking lot at Riverfront Park. Access to this lot will also be available from Front Street.
Additional streetscape work is also being on Front Street and on the 100 block of Main Street. The project will continue up Main until it reaches Fourth Street.
Ray said each block of Main Street should take about 10 to 14 days of work to finish both sides of the street. That is, if everything goes to plan. Ray said factors like weather and unknown underground utilities can cause some setbacks.
Croteau said the streetscape project is scheduled to be substantially completed by Oct. 15.
She also stressed that all downtown businesses have remained open throughout the project and will continue to remain open as streetscape construction continues.
Croteau advised people to be cautious in the construction area, but not to let it keep them away from downtown.
With the brick planters currently being constructed on Front Street and the brick pavers scheduled to be put in soon after, some of the first visual results from the streetscape project will give the community a preview of what is to come for the rest of downtown Niles.
On Wednesday, another set of street construction projects will begin throughout the City of Niles.
Three of the federally funded street resurfacing projects are scheduled to begin with work being done on Wayne Street from 5th to 13th; 13th Street from Wayne to Lake; and on 17th Street from Eagle to Lake.
The designated sections will start with cold-milling and concrete removals and then proceed with replacement and resurfacing.
The remaining projects will be done after the intersection work on Front and Main is completed. Those streets include Broadway from 2nd to 10th; Grant Street from Parkway to St. Joseph and from Lincoln to Barrett; and Wayne Street from Front to 5th.