WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- Traffic's been flowing on Front Street since Friday, but today the City of Wilmington and Cape Fear Public Utility Authority held an official ribbon cutting.
The nearly $2 million project took a little more than seven months to complete. That's three weeks ahead of schedule. Workers replaced water and sewer lines that were more than 100 years old. Even though closing Front Street was an inconvenience to businesses, most made it through alright.
"We're on budget, which is great," Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo said. "I know that this was a tremendous disruption to the property owners down here and the merchants down here, but we said we'd get it done as quickly as we could. We got their input. We listened to their concerns. Some rocky starts here and there, but for the most part we ended up with a great product here."
Above ground, larger sidewalks, new landscaping and improved lighting are some of the highlights of the Front Street Project.
it shows
that it was a rush job, it may look nice but try walking down the sidewalk. Watch your step as there is a 1" plus elevation difference where the cement and the brick meet.
Ok, so the street looks
Ok, so the street looks pretty now. How about trying to do something about the empty building over the mayor's right shoulder?
"Above ground, larger sidewalks, new landscaping and improved lighting" are nice, but when half of the buildings are empty, is this really going to bring the people down there?