Work began Friday on a project intended to breathe new life into the \u201cMain Street of Texas.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first phase of the \u201cCongress Avenue Urban Design Initiative<\/a>\u201d kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony, marking the start of a $13 million project that is expected to transform Congress Avenue from Cesar Chavez Street to Seventh Street into a \u201cdynamic and vibrant corridor\u201d with a \u201ccomplete redesign\u201d over the next 18 months, according\u00a0to Austin Transportation and Public Works Director Richard Mendoza.<\/p>\n The initiative aims to make Congress more people-centric without reducing lane space for vehicles, with planned upgrades including protected bike lanes, trees and planters. But the biggest change, Mendoza said Friday, will\u00a0be the addition of \u201cprogrammable storefront activation zones.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a fancy way of saying that we will create permanent infrastructure that will allow businesses to use the areas in front of their stores while still having ample room for pedestrians,\u201d Mendoza said.\u00a0The zones will create space businesses can utilize for outdoor cafe seating, merchandise display racks and direct interaction with pedestrians.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what the project is really about: creating spaces for people to enjoy and interact as a community,\u201d Mendoza said.<\/p>\n The project, funded by the city of Austin\u2019s 2020 mobility bond, will gradually overhaul each block of the corridor, starting with the 100 block of Congress north of the Ann W. Richards bridge. Construction will progress block-by-block, moving north until the project is complete. Each block is estimated to take about three months to complete.<\/p>\n While crews will try to keep disruptions to a minimum, periodic lane closures and short-term detours will be inevitable, Mendoza said. Construction noise and dust could also be disruptive, but project managers will be on site to liaise with business owners in an effort to minimize impacts, he said.<\/p>\n Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said on Friday those disruptions are worthwhile in order to invest in downtown.<\/p>\n