Downtown Rockwall construction starts

No disruption for holiday shoppers, according to officials

ROCKWALL (November 8, 2013) The Downtown Rockwall Enhancements project, Phase 1, will start immediately – but city officials say the work, estimated to take two months, will not obstruct holiday traffic or shoppers.

The project will include adding parking areas at Rusk and Fannin streets ((18 new parking spaces) and at San Jacinto andWashington(40 new parking spaces). Signs will be installed to direct downtown visitors to the new parking areas when they are completed.

Rockwall Mayor David Sweet urged residents to come downtown and shop Rockwall for all holiday needs.

“It’s a great area for shopping and there are great places to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner,” the mayor said. “Your holiday shopping trips won’t be interrupted by the renovation work – so come on downtown where you can always find those special gifts and some of the best food and friendliest people inTexas!” 

Phase 2 work set for 2014

After the first of the year, Phase 2 construction is scheduled to start and should be completed in about 18 months. The scope of the work includes:

• Sidewalks
• Parking
• Walls
• PedestrianPlaza
• Roads
• Accessibility issues
• San Jacinto Court House Plaza

Major work will generally be limited to the streets that directly border the downtown square, although there will be some work on the streets approaching and departing the square. The work will include new street paving and sidewalks, street lighting, landscaping and the addition of a pedestrian mall and a courthouse plaza.

Throughout the project there will be some lane restrictions and intermittent road closures; however, pedestrian access will be maintained to all businesses at all times during construction. Also, the city will provide temporary directional signage on the roads approaching the square to direct downtown visitors to the various satellite parking lots.

When completed, the $8.625 million voter-approved capital improvement project will provide accessible sidewalks, more parking spaces in and around downtown, enhanced areas for visitors to gather and new landscaping.

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  downtown construction, holiday shopping, Rockwall