Nighttime street maintenance for East Broadway to begin June 27th

The City of Columbia Public Works Department announced Friday that street maintenance is scheduled for East Broadway, between Providence and Hitt Street, From Monday, June 27th through the morning of Friday, July 1st.

The mill and overlay process will be done during the evening from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

There will be no parking allowed from Hitt Street to Providence while work is taking place.

Any vehicles parked on Broadway after 7 p.m. will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Beginning at about 7 a.m. each morning, Broadway will be opened to through traffic and parking as normal once barricades have been removed.

Columbia Public Works Director Dave Nichols stated: “We appreciate the patience and cooperation of residents and downtown businesses as we perform crucial work.”

“We have planned this work to provide as much convenience as practical for businesses and customers in the downtown area. “

“We ask for everyone to be cautious in the work zone and remain alert at all times.”

Capital Paving, the contractor performing the street maintenance, will start working at Broadway and Hitt and progress to the west.

When workers reach approximately Sixth Street, they will move to the intersection of Broadway and Providence and head east.

“The contract allows for the contractor to leave a milled driving surface for up to five days,” said Public Works Construction Project Superintendent David Fennewald.

“We do not anticipate a milled surface to be open that long, but it is expected that portions of the roadway will be left milled at the end of each work day.”

Broadway mill and overlay is similar to the process being performed on other streets in the City this spring and summer, but is a bit more complicated.

Public Works Engineering Manager Richard Stone stated: “Due to a higher number of obstructions, such as extended curbs and brick sidewalks, work may sometimes proceed at a slower pace in order to work around these areas in a careful and prudent way.”

Businesses open at night are permitted to remain open during the construction period.

Customers simply need to find alternative routes and parking.

Using one of the parking garages is recommended.

Because work is being done at night, no through traffic will be permitted on Broadway during street maintenance.

This is to protect the safety of workers, motorists and non-motorized transportation users.

The work schedule is tentative and based on the best available information.

It is subject to change due weather or other factors.

“If work must be extended beyond Friday morning, work will be suspended until after the Fourth of July holiday weekend,” Nichols said.

As such, there will be no work from Friday night, July 1st, through Tuesday morning, July 5th.