Patton Street between Craghead and Lynn streets was closed this afternoon to through traffic to allow for the start of a storm water drainage project that will impact traffic along this corridor for six months or more.
The project not only will affect traffic, but Danville Transit routes as well.
Danville Transit has established a detour of certain routes due to the construction. Certain bus routes will travel along South Ridge Street and turn left onto Wilson Street when leaving the Spring Street transfer center. This detour affects the following routes: #1 Kemper-Road-DCC, #1 North Main, #4 Health Center – DCC and #4 North Main.
A temporary bus stop at South Ridge and Patton streets is available for passengers to use to travel to and from Patton Street.
The project will relocate storm water drainage from a partially blocked culvert located between South Union and South Market streets into a new storm drain that will be installed along Patton Street in front of the Municipal Building and the James F. Ingram Justice Center (courthouse). The new drainage system on Patton will connect to the existing system located in South Union Street and in Patton Street, close to Craghead Street. Patton Street currently has no storm water drainage system.
The project will be conducted in five phases. Sections of Patton, Market and South Union street will be completely closed during construction at various points. Businesses will have access to their property throughout the duration of the project.
In the first phase, no through traffic will be allowed between Craghead and Lynn streets. Lynn and Market streets will remain open during this phase, which is expected to take one month to complete, weather permitting.
In the second phase, South Market Street will be closed. In the third phase, Patton Street will be closed to through traffic in front of the Municipal Building and courthouse. In the fourth phase, construction will take place at the intersection of Patton and South Union streets, with no through traffic on Patton Street.
In the final phase, South Union Street will be closed, but traffic on Patton Street likely will be reopened.
Portions of the existing storm water drainage system through downtown are hand-built stone culverts. A portion of this structure is located under buildings and is unable to be properly maintained.
Haymes Brothers Inc. of Chatham is the contractor for the project.