The city is closing Crown Street between Church and Temple Streets to car traffic for the summer, as construction on the Crown Street Bridge continues.
Drivers trying to get down that block between June 18 and Aug. 7 will have to take a detour to Chapel Street and back to Temple Street. Pedestrians will be able to walk on Crown Street during the project, which will be completed in two phases, allow underground utilities to be relocated.
Gary Morrisey, the project manager for CJ Fucci Inc., described the work in a group email message:
“The superstructure of the Crown Street Bridge will be replaced during the detour period utilizing Accelerated Bridge Construction methods. Precast Concrete / Steel Composite Deck Units are being fabricated off site and will be trucked to the site and set in place immediately following removal of the existing superstructure. This work will be performed in two phases to allow for the relocation of existing underground utilities.
“During Phase 1 pedestrian through traffic will be maintained on the South sidewalk (adjacent to Gateway College). Access will be maintained to the North sidewalk at all points with the exception of the Cask Republic restaurant, which will be accessed through the lobby of the Omni Hotel. During Phase 2 pedestrian through traffic will be maintained on the North sidewalk.”
Since it's underground, why isn't it called the Crown Street Tunnel? And why is this a public structure since it isn't open to the public and serves only a couple of businesses and Gateway Community College? The Register story says that project will cost about $1.5 million, with costs split 50-50 between the city and state. That's a lot of public money to make deliveries more convenient for a very few establishments.