LAKEPORT ? Dirt ditches and construction workers are visible behind yellow caution tape where sidewalk and street are torn up along Lakeport”s Third Street as a city construction project goes on.
Despite the appearance of little or no access to two businesses on the north side of Third Street, proprietors report that business has not been affected by the construction, and the project is going well. Lakeport City Engineer Scott Harter said the city contracted with FEDCO of Santa Rosa for the job, which began July 7. He estimated the construction should be complete by Sept. 23.
“The company (FEDCO) has been absolutely wonderful. They”ve made it as easy as they can for us, which is a nice surprise. I thought it would be a lot dustier, and that there would be a lot more noise than there is and generally a lot more mess in the front of the restaurant,” Park Place Restaurant co-owner Nancy Zabel said.
The restaurant and the water sports retailer On the Waterfront face Third Street, where the main entrances are accessible across exposed dirt and gravel by a wooden plank while construction continues.
“They”ve been marvelous about getting our customers access and keeping our driveway open so we can get boats in and out, which I”m really stoked about,” On the Waterfront owner Roy O. Fields II said.
He said he was initially concerned when he learned the project would be happening during July, the busiest tourism month of the year.
Harter said the $468,600 redevelopment project will widen sidewalks on both sides of Third Street to give the area a “promenade feel.” Sidewalks will extend out into the street farther on the corner of Third and Park streets to allow shorter street-crossing time for pedestrians, and trees and streetlights will also go in, according to Harter.
Harter said the project is part of a larger city redevelopment project “in the few millions of dollars range” that will involve repaving and other improvements along Main and Forbes streets from Armstrong Street to Fourth Street, and along Park Street from First Street to Third Street.
The city discussed the Third Street construction plans with the businesses earlier this year, according to Harter. Third Street remains open to vehicle traffic, but it will be closed when the street is repaved later in the summer, according to Harter, affecting The Ink Spot on the south side of the street.
In addition to construction on Third Street, the city project involves paving a dirt lot adjacent to City Hall. When the lot is complete, 22 parking spaces will be available.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
