GAINESVILLE – The bright orange traffic cones move about the downtown Gainesville square like pieces on a chessboard. Each day some area of Main, Broad, Spring or Maple Streets receives attention to the beeping cadence of excavators, much like the beeping rhythm of a monitor in an operating room, signifying life.
Today helmeted workers try valiantly not to impede the flow of traffic – both vehicular and pedestrian – but that task will become more Herculean in about ten weeks. That’s when the crane and the massive pre-made deck components are scheduled to arrive in town; that’s when the city’s parking deck will begin the process of growing two-levels taller; that’s when a couple of downtown streets will be closed for an extended period of time.
City Manager Bryan Lackey said at Thursday’s city council work session that much of the work for the parking deck expansion is already underway but at a remote location.
“Around September 24th is the delivery date for the precast pieces for the parking deck that are actually being made right now off site,” Lackey said. “When that happens we’ll have several road closures including Main Street and part of Broad Street.”
He added that the entire parking deck will be closed leading into the 24th. “We’ll put notices up that cars need to be removed by a certain date and time.”
The major components of the new deck levels will be trucked in, Lackey said, and the crane used to hoist them into place will be positioned on Main Street.
“It’ll be quite a sequence of trucks that’ll come through. The trucks will drive up; the crane will take the piece right off the truck, lift it up and install it; then the next truck comes in and that process continues until both levels are erected.”
“It’s going to be interesting to watch,” Lackey explained. “Just like a Lego set or Lincoln Logs,” he told council members.
As to where parking might be available during the construction process, Lackey said, “We’re working on some alternative plans that we’re not ready to announce just yet as far as trying to lease some other spots in downtown and make those private lots open to the public during the day.”
Lackey says the road closures should last for about two months (weather permitting) and that the city hopes to re-open the parking deck just after Thanksgiving.
Mayor Danny Dunagan said, “There’s going to be a little pain but once this is all over with everybody’s going to benefit hugely.”
