Drivers can expect traffic delays across central Gainesville to end no earlier than September 2011, according to a state official.
The resurfacing of the roadway and adjacent sidewalks at Northwest and Southwest 13th Street (U.S. Highway 441) that began in mid-June will move to Main Street on Sept. 1 and to University Avenue on Jan. 1.
According to Florida Department of Transportation spokeswoman Laurie Windham, Main Street will be permanently reduced from four lanes to two in the one-mile stretch between North Eighth Avenue and North 23rd Avenue, increasing downtown public parking.
The construction of the three areas will cost at least $13 million, provided by state taxes and will require an estimated 8,640 hours of labor, Windham said.
During resurfacing, asphalt on the roadway is replaced, and damaged sidewalk areas are repaired. While sidewalk repairs require minimal lane closures and can be worked on throughout the day, road repaving causes major delays, she said.
Nighttime paving for the 13th Street phase, which spans four miles from Southwest Archer Road to Northwest Sixth Avenue, will begin Aug. 1 and continue for up to three months, according to a press release by the transportation department.
