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Posted on Wed, Jul 17, 2013 : 2:59 p.m.

Fourth Avenue opens for Ann Arbor Art Fair but will close again next week

By Ryan J. Stanton

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A newly reconstructed Fourth Avenue opened just in time for this year's Ann Arbor Art Fair — as city officials promised — but some finishing work still remains.

After the fair is over, the street — one of downtown's main north-south passages — will close once again next week as a temporary traffic control plan goes back into effect through Aug. 2.

Starting July 22, Fourth Avenue will be closed to through traffic between Huron Street and Liberty Street in order to complete the restoration of brick pavers, adjust structures, place the final layer of asphalt, and place pavement markings, city officials said.

Fourth_Avenue_n_071613_RJS_001.jpg

A car passes down Fourth Avenue on Tuesday evening.

Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com

Northbound traffic on Fourth Avenue will be directed east on Liberty Street, north on Division Street, west on Huron Street and north on Fourth Avenue.

Southbound traffic on Fourth Avenue will be directed east on Huron Street, south on Fifth Avenue, west on Liberty Street, and south on Fourth Avenue. Access to all driveways will be maintained during the construction. Pedestrian traffic on Fourth Avenue will be maintained at all times as well.

AnnArbor.com reporter Ryan J. Stanton captured the images above over the course of the past several weeks, showing the progress so far on the project.

Crews have replaced the existing water main with a new 12-inch water main along Fourth Avenue from Huron to Washington; installed a new stormwater management system; and replaced curbs, gutters, curb ramps, some sidewalks; and reconstructed the street between Huron and Liberty.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529. You also can follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's email newsletters.

Comments

peg dash fab

Thu, Jul 18, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.

Great photos, Ryan!

Ryan J. Stanton

Thu, Jul 18, 2013 : 7:01 p.m.

Thanks! It was fun to watch the project go through the stages. Most of those were taken just passing by on my lunch breaks over the last several weeks.

LXIX

Thu, Jul 18, 2013 : 10:54 a.m.

The City's new infrastructure spending magic Now ya see it now ya don't. Give Igor and the crews a break It rained remember ? Rained and rained and rained. Did you really want the new cement curbs to look like those artistic rock "cascades" at argo? After downtown floods and the young professionals living in their vertical islands have to pull out their kayaks just to go get a cup of coffee?

An Arborigine

Thu, Jul 18, 2013 : 1:01 a.m.

All hail Art Fair!

Goofus

Wed, Jul 17, 2013 : 11:44 p.m.

Construction officials have to "close the gap" between the amount of time 4th is re-opened before they close another vital city thoroughfare to impede traffic and endanger pedestrians with a lengthy and dangerous project There never can actually be a completely open roads in downtown Ann Arbor anymore...ever.

johnnya2

Thu, Jul 18, 2013 : 12:28 p.m.

So you prefer things become unusable so that it makes your life more convenient? Making the false argument that a closed Fourth Street makes pedestrians at greater danger is silly. Last I checked construction SLOWS traffic which makes pedsetrians safer.

Brad

Wed, Jul 17, 2013 : 8:48 p.m.

annarbor.com, 5/19/13 http://bit.ly/14663nr " two months of construction that will completely close the road beginning May 14." "The goal is for construction to be complete before the Ann Arbor Art Fairs start July 17, said project manager Igor Kotlyar." "As long as they proceed to get the work moving at a good construction speed, they should be able to get everything done and open for the art fair." So what they really said is that 4th Ave would be *finished* by Art Fair, and it wasn't if they need to close it again. Isn't that more accurate? Would you still say they kept their "promise"? Reminiscent of the DDA's "Grand Opening" of the unfinished Garage Mahal last year.

Brad

Thu, Jul 18, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.

I'm not complaining about the fact that they're slightly over schedule - that's fairly common and understandable. I just don't care for the fluffy mischaracterization that they finished on schedule "as city officials promised" which simply isn't what happened. I bet if you asked the construction people they would have said the same thing. It's all about objectivity. A little too heavy on the "city PR" sometimes.

johnnya2

Thu, Jul 18, 2013 : 12:26 p.m.

Maybe you haven't been in Ann Arbor the last two months, but you do realize we have had a lot more rain than is typical for June and July? Why is it every commenter on here who has NEVER done the job seems to think they know how to do it better faster or cheaper. If you have that experience, go ahead and apply for the job.

Borbsi

Thu, Jul 18, 2013 : 2:30 a.m.

Fourth Ave. was open last weekend, just not complete. A lot of work for the time/weather.

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