As part of the Blount Avenue Streetscape Improvements Project, Charles Blalock and Sons Inc. will be closing the north side of East Blount Avenue between Chapman Highway/Henley Street and Gay Street, beginning the week of April 10.
The westbound lanes will be shifted to accommodate the installation of storm sewer, water lines and utility connections for the new residential apartments, Riverwalk at the Bridges.
East Blount Avenue will continue to have two travel lanes with a reduced speed limit through the construction zone. Bicyclists will share travel lanes with vehicular traffic. Through traffic to points east or west along Blount Avenue may bypass the construction zone by using the Henley or Gay Street bridges as an alternate route.
The sidewalk on the north side of East Blount Avenue will be closed, and signs will direct pedestrians to the south sidewalks on East Blount.
Currently, utility upgrades are continuing along West Blount Avenue between Chapman Highway and the Norfolk Southern railroad overpass near St. Paul Street. KUB crews have been relocating overhead electric infrastructure. Utility work will continue through the spring.
This new streetscape design along Blount Avenue will improve pedestrian connections and enhance multi-modal options with bicycle lanes and bus stops. Additional improvements include street and pedestrian-scaled lighting, landscaped medians and signal modifications to support two South Waterfront residential developments: Riverwalk at the Bridges (located on the main footprint of the former Baptist Hospital site) and Riverfront Station student housing, located west of the Henley Bridge.