Sections of two of downtown’s busiest streets will be closed starting Monday

By David Skolnick

skolnick@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

Sections of two of downtown’s busiest streets will be closed to vehicular traffic from Monday to about Aug. 26 for resurfacing work.

The streets are Federal Street between Phelps and Walnut streets, and Market Street from Front to Commerce streets.

Detour signs will be posted during the work.

There were discussions about reopening the roads between the milling and the paving phases of the project, but it was decided it would be easier and quicker to keep the roads closed the entire time, said Charles Shasho, the city’s deputy director of public works.

The streets will be closed to vehicles beginning at 7 a.m. Monday and reopen Aug. 26 though it could be sooner if the work is done earlier, Shasho said.

The streets haven’t been paved since the city reopened Federal Plaza in 2005.

Pedestrians will be allowed on the streets during the work as there isn’t any sidewalk construction as part of this project, Shasho said. The work includes resurfacing, pavement markings and replacing traffic signs on streets.

Butch & McCree Paving Inc. of Hillsville, Pa., which submitted a bid of $408,607, is handling the project.

A federal grant will provide 80 percent of the project’s cost with the rest coming from the city’s $5 vehicle-license fee, Shasho said.