Streetscaping Set for Main Street at Highland Avenue

Downtown is set to undergo a some cosmetic changes that officials hope will create a more aesthetic and cohesive downtown.

A $141,926 project to move cable, phone and utility lines on Main Street underground, realign Main Street crosswalks at the Highland Avenue intersection and redo a concrete driveway in front of the Dunedin Smokehouse is set to begin in mid-August.

“It creates better atmosphere and ambiance,” said Bob Ironsmith, community redevelopment director. “We want to bring people downtown.”

Other beautification projects will also be done to the intersection to boost the area's façade.

“This is a smaller-scope enhancement,” Ironsmith said.

Ironsmith said he expects Kloote Contracting Inc. of Palm Harbor to have the project completed by November. He doesn’t anticipate the project hindering regular operations for surrounding businesses, including The Living Room, The Dunedin Smokehouse and Paris Hair Design.

“There might be a couple days of detours and maybe some debris, but nothing unmanageable,” Ironsmith said.

Utility services for locations surrounding the work area should also continue without interruption. owner Mike Rey watched the matter closely and partnered with city officials to ensure things are business as usual throughout the project.

“They really do a great job with these things,” Rey said. “They orchestrated it well enough to where it isn’t going to have too big of an impact.”

The project is funded through the Community Redevelopment Agency.