Madison Center Median Removal Today: Travel Lanes and Businesses Open as Center Project Reaches Another Milestone

Issued by / photos by: Ryan Duques, Economic Development Commission

As rain fell in downtown Madison this morning, crews began the process of removing the center median, which runs between the north and southbound lanes on Main Street. Travel lanes in both directions remain open as crews used heavy equipment to remove and place the aged asphalt median into a dump truck.

The construction team, who is working to also lay bricks on the new surface in the south east corner of town and ready the surface in the south west corner of town will ensure that lanes of travel are always available in both directions as the old median is removed.

Phase one of the project, which started last fall includes reconstruction of the sidewalks on both sides and the center median from Wall Street and Samson Rock Drive to the gas stations (Henny Penny and Cumberland Farms). This includes running underground utilities and irrigation as well as installation of new light poles, tree grates and bike racks. Last fall the north side of Main Street was largely completed as sidewalks were completed, light poles, bike racks and tree grates installed and underground utilities placed. According to town engineer Mike Ott, if weather and construction progress cooperates he is hopeful for tree and planting installation late this spring.

Retail stores and offices are open on their regular schedules while some parking spaces have been reserved for construction. Visitors to town are reminded that there is ample parking behind the south side of town, where both time restricted and unrestricted spaces can be found. Additionally there is parking on the north side of main street and behind the movie theater.

Business owners and employees are asked to parking restrictions: Madison’s main street, the west side of Wall Street and the parking area immediately behind RJ Julia’s and People’s Bank on the south side of main street have a two or three hour parking limit Monday – Friday and as posted. Untimed parking is available in the parking area just to the east of the Stop and Shop lot.

View the project update from the EDC Webcam, which is broadcasting live from the top of the Scranton Memorial Library at: http://madisonedc.org/development/live-web-cam/

For more information on the project visit www.MadisonEDC.org/downtown-center-project/