State Street Garage Update- April 11, 2013

Progress on the State Street Garage expansion is continuing. Due to a variety of factors, S. Central Street will likely remain closed most of next week to finish construction and then to disassemble the crane. The eastern portion of Union Avenue will also be closed much of the time while this last bit of work is accomplished. Traffic into the parking garage from S. Central Street will be directed to Commerce Street and then through the existing surface parking lot on State Street.
Some goods news here is that State Street will not have to be closed after all. Thanks to the kindness of our neighbors, H.T. Hackney, the smaller crane needed to lift the precast concrete forming the overpass will operate from their parking lot beginning next week. State Street lane closures may still be possible throughout the day particularly while the crane is swinging the precast into place. The elevator at State Street level will not be able to be used most of next week at any time, even nights. Foundation work in front of the elevator will make the elevator inaccessible. The temporary stairway will also not be in use during working hours. It will be open nights, however. During work hours next week, access to S. Gay Street from the surface lot and from the State Street Garage will only be available via the sidewalks on Union Avenue and Clinch Avenue.
By the week of April 22, 2013, all streets surrounding the garage and the garage itself will generally be reopened. Some work will remain on the new deck of course and also on the overpass. The plan is to try to get the overpass and railing in place such that the overpass can be used on nights and weekends by the end of the month while work on the glass roof is ongoing during the day.
We hope to have total completion of the project by the 4th of July.

As a reminder to everyone of the look we are working towards, I thought I would once again provide the renderings provided by our Architects , McCarty Holsaple McCarty, some time ago. Some of the design has changed slightly but I believe this is still a very good approximation.

Here are a few pictures I took earlier this week of the work along S. Central Street:



The picture below includes the old State Street Garage sign which we plan to refurbish.



The new trash enclosure will be moved to the location below:

Please plan to attend the Dogwood Arts Festival Art Fair downtown on Market Square this weekend. The weather should be fantastic and Market Square really looks nice. For the first time in may years all four corners of the Square have open businesses with the opening of Tupelo Honey and now the Orange Leaf.



Thanks for your interest in Downtown Knoxville and in the State Street Garage Expansion project