Avenue of the Columns Work to Begin on Monday, December 7

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

Beginning on Monday, Dec. 7 at 7 a.m., Aplex, Inc. of Linn, Mo. will begin work on the next phase of the Avenue of the Columns project along Eighth Street from Cherry Street to Walnut Street.

The work will consist of of reconstructing sidewalks, crosswalks, ADA ramps and handrails as needed to the design standards adopted for the Avenue of the Columns project master plan.

During this phase of construction, various parking stalls may be unavailable at various times. In addition, various sidewalk closures will occur throughout the project.

The project is scheduled for completion, dependent on weather, in the summer of 2016. The project will invest $1.27 million into downtown infrastructure with funding from the voter approved 2005 Capital Improvement Sales Tax.

The Avenue of the Columns project was developed through a 2005 downtown master plan created to establish a unique corridor on Eighth Street from Walnut Street to Elm Street. The intent was to link the historic columns at the Boone County Courthouse Square to the columns cast in the Francis Quadrangle foreground of Jesse Hall, serving to remind us of the important relationship between Columbia and the University of Missouri.

The first phase of this project was built when the City Hall project was completed, and a second phase was completed in 2012. This phase was approved by council in December of 2014 after a public hearing was held in November 2014.

Motorist and non-motorized transportation users are urged to use caution in the work zone and find alternate routes when available.