Please check this page for updates to the construction downtown this year.
Pre-Construction Informational Meeting
April 12 9-10 am
City Council Chambers, 409 S Main Street
Open to the public
Learn about the two construction projects starting this spring downtown. Scope of work, timing, and street closures will be discussed.
There will be two projects starting spring 2019.
North Main Street – Downtown Streetscape Phase III:
Description: This project will improve both sides of N Main St between Elizabeth and Wolfe Streets with sidewalk reconstruction (brick sidewalks), addition of curb ramps, replacement of traffic signal poles, new pedestrian signal systems, new illuminated street signs, and new street lighting.
Anticipated Start Date: April 22, 2019*
Anticipated Completion: December 2019*
Contractor: Partners Excavating Company of Mt Crawford
Funding: Total estimated cost is $786,341. $681,688 in VDOT Transportation Alternatives Program grants $681,688, matched by $170,422 in local funds.
Closures: This area will be open to pedestrian traffic & ramps will bridge access to business entrances. Auto traffic will pass S Main Street via a single lane through this one-block stretch.
East Market Street – Water, Sewer, and Sidewalks Improvement Project:
Description: Public Works will repave East Market St. from Main St to Mason St and will upgrade to brick paver sidewalks. The 100-year old 8″ unlined cast iron waterline along East Market St from Main St to Mason St. will be replaced, obsolete sanitary manholes will also be replaced. Service laterals to the adjoining properties will be reconstructed.
Anticipated Start Date: May 5, 2019*
Anticipated Completion: August 2019*
Funding: $800,000 from local funding sources.
Closures: This area will be open to pedestrian traffic & ramps will bridge access to business entrances. These two blocks of E Market Street will be closed to auto traffic and will be detoured via signage.
*Construction schedules may change depending on weather or unforeseen challenges.
Questions? Contact Public Works at 540-434-5928 or publicworks@harrisonburgva.gov
Learn more about the Downtown Streetscape Plan online. https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/downtown-streetscape-plan
Why are there downtown streetscape improvements?
When HDR first got started in 2003, we collaborated with the city to develop a vision for public improvements to jump start downtown’s revitalization. In order to re-establish the heart of Harrisonburg, public investments are just as important as private investment. Design concepts, landscaping, and hardscaping materials were identified and projects were outlined in the Downtown Streetscape Plan and would be tackled as funding began available. Two major projects were already completed with the last one ending in January 2015. Before then, previous downtown infrastructure improvements were last completed in the 1970s. In order to maintain the vibrancy of downtown that the community has worked so hard to achieve, and in order to bring more investment and attention to additional areas, projects continue to move forward to realize the vision established in the early 2000s.
The last project completed improvements along the west side of Main Street from Bruce Street to Court Square that included sidewalk reconstruction, curb ramps, new traffic signals and pedestrian signal systems, illuminated street signs, new street lights, and underground ducts.