The city of Danville has rescheduled the Main Street ribbon-cutting ceremony that was originally set for Saturday, Dec. 14. The ceremony now will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 20, at the intersection of Floyd Street and Main Street.
The city rescheduled the event due to the weather forecast, which includes the possibility of inclement weather on Saturday.
The change in dates for the ribbon-cutting ceremony does not affect the plans for the Riverview Rotary Christmas Parade. The parade remains scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will mark the close of construction in the 300, 400 and 500 blocks of Main Street and the block of Union Street between Main and Spring streets.
Construction on the first phase of the streetscape project began in September 2012. The activity ranged from widening sidewalks and installing brick pavers to creating more visible and safer pedestrian crossings, upgrading utilities and providing amenities such as trees, benches and new lighting.
The city has given the general contractor, Virginia Carolina Paving of South Boston, a punch list or list of final tasks to carry out in order to complete this phase.
Construction continues in the second phase of streetscape improvements. This phase began in April of this year. It includes creation of the Main Street Plaza and installation of a fountain in front of Lou’s Antiques and Jakes on Main.
The River District Development Project is in its third year. As part of the project, the city has adopted design guidelines for the look and feel of buildings in the district. A seven-member commission has been appointed to oversee compliance.
In addition to developing design guidelines and undertaking streetscape projects, the city has converted Patton Street to two-way traffic in order to provide better access to businesses and parking lots serving stores on Main Street; opened a new parking lot at 500 Main St.; and conducted a parking study for the full district.
The city has received state money to create a pedestrian lane on the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge to connect the walking trail on the north side of the Dan River to the Main Street Plaza and the walking trail on the south side of the river. This project is in the design phase, with construction expected to begin in the spring.
The River District has attracted $78 million in private investment over five years, with much of the activity having taken place since the start of the River District Development Project. That figure outpaces public investment by threefold.
For more information, visit www.riverdistrictdanville.com.