Front Street project progresses

The Azalea Festival was a critical date for the Front Street Improvement Project. Phase one of the project, between Market and Princess Streets was ready for the festival as scheduled.

Even though it’s now open to pedestrians, that block is still closed to cars until street lines, benches and lights are installed. Wilmington Downtown Inc. says it is happy with the progress.

“I’m very pleased,” Wilmington Downtown Inc. Executive Director John Hinant said. “It appears as though they’re on schedule. They’ve met the goals that they said they would reach. The street was open to pedestrians during the festival, which was a key target date for the businesses and for everybody else downtown.”

Phase two, which will make the same improvements for the 100 block, is just getting started. The projected deadline for the entire project is late July.