3 week closure for Gainesville's Main St. as water line replacement begins

Starting Monday, Main Street in Gainesville will be closed on either side of Jesse Jewell Parkway for three weeks as crews work to replace aging water lines under the roadway.
 
The water line replacement, which will see the city replace 100-year-old cast iron lines, is being undertaken in advance of an upcoming streetscaping project being overseen by the City of Gainesville that will run from Jesse Jewell Parkway to College Avenue.
 
"A decision was made by the city that since we were going to go in and do the streetscaping work, we needed to make all of the necessary repairs at one time," explained Assistant City Manager Angela Sheppard.
 
Sheppard said the water line project will include crews boring under Jesse Jewell at the north and south side of Main Street, necessitating the closure.
 
Main Street traffic is the only stretch being diverted, with Sheppard emphasizing that traffic on Jesse Jewell Parkway will continue as normal.
 
"There will be no disruption to Jesse Jewell, the disruption will be to Main Street," she noted. "So you will not be able to turn off of Jesse Jewell onto Maine Street, is where the closures will be."
 
Detour options will be provided on several nearby streets, and Sheppard said crews will be working quickly to ensure that portions of Main Street can be reopened as soon as possible.
 
"We want to thank everyone in advance for their patience. We know this will be inconvenient for downtown motorists," she said. "We will make sure the detour routes are clearly marked."
 
Sheppard continued: "Motorists and pedestrians will have access to the Gainesville Square, the Brenau Downtown Center, CVS Pharmacy, Slack Auto Parts and all other nearby businesses, but it will include a detour."
 
Once boring is completed under Jesse Jewell, Sheppard said the north side of Main Street toward the Downtown Square will be re-opened.
 
"The south side of Main Street, between CVS and Slack Auto Parts, will remain closed to complete the water line replacement and a portion of the streetscaping," she added.
 
Upon completion of the work, Sheppard said motorists in the area will need to continue driving cautiously, as the streetscaping project will then continue in earnest.
 
That project includes the installation of new and wider sidewalks, landscaping and ornamental lighting. The endeavor will eventually connect to the Midtown Greenway and pedestrian bridge.