The interactive fountain in the center of the Jackson Square parking lot won’t be finished before the Lavender Festival in June, but work around the fountain should be completed by then, a city official said Monday.
The interactive fountain won’t be in place by the Lavender Festival in June, but other perimeter work around the Jackson Square parking lot should be completed, a city official said Monday.
Construction work on the $1 million rebuild of the parking lot area at Jackson Square started in January. The construction contract was awarded to Rich Construction Inc. of Lenoir City by the Oak Ridge City Council in October.
The work is funded with help from a $741,609 Tennessee Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant that was awarded to the city in June 2012. The TDOT grant covers 80 percent of the work, and it requires a 20 percent city match.
Jackson Square is Oak Ridge’s original town center.
Oak Ridge Public Works Director Cinder said the perimeter work should be complete by mid-June. The rest of the work could be complete within about 30 days after the Lavender Festival, he said at an Oak Ridge City Council meeting on Monday.
Project executives and city officials had initially planned to complete the work in 180 days, or roughly six months after starting in January, finishing before the Lavender Festival in June. But there have apparently been some delays, including because of weather.
The work includes removing the existing traffic islands and trees, cleaning the site, and adding to relocating utilities, including electrical lines that are now above ground, said Angel Rich Johnson, president of Rich Construction. Underground water lines will supply a new interactive water feature to be installed in the center of the parking lot.
There will also be benches, parking, new lights, changes to the angle parking, and lots of landscaping and other improvements, said Johnson and Roger Flynn, Oak Ridge Public Works engineer. City officials have said the landscaped pedestrian plaza will also have stone pavers, curbing, sidewalks, and upgrades under the American with Disabilities Act. The work will include some green space and a newly configured and modernized parking lot.
“It’s going to be a huge improvement to the square,” Johnson said.
Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has said the revitalization project will update Jackson Square and make it more inviting.
The city has improved the Farmers Market parking lot on the north side of Broadway to help with parking while the Jackson Square parking lot is being renovated.
The city’s share of the construction project is estimated at $293,617. The city is responsible for 100 percent of the cost of engineering services for project design and for 100 percent of any construction costs over the 80 percent TDOT budget amount.
The City Council awarded a $150,000 contract for design services for the Jackson Square project in February 2013.
See the improvements map here. It’s also included on Page 7 of this City Council agenda packet.
Angel Rich Johnson, left, president of Rich Construction Inc. of Lenoir City, and Roger Flynn, Oak Ridge Public Works engineer, are pictured above in Jackson Square in January.
Sandi Goldberg says
I cannot tell by the illustration. Does anyone know if it will remain a one way street? I hope so.
Ray Evans says
The flow through the parking area is two-way.
johnhuotari says
Thank you, Ray.