Front Street work finishing ahead of schedule

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The noise, fences and road closures in Downtown Wilmington will soon be a thing of the past and sooner than expected. The Front Street Improvement Project is nearly finished and will be open to pedestrian traffic by this weekend.

Today workers were busy finishing up the paving at the chestnut street intersection. All that’s left is installing street fixtures such as lights that will improve the nighttime atmosphere.

“That’s always been a problem in our downtown: it’s too dark,” said John Hinnant, Wilmington Downtown Inc. Executive Director. “These two new sections of Front Street have a highly noticeable increase in lightning. It really changes the atmosphere here at night for the better.”

Front Street should be completely reopened by July 15. That’s a full two weeks ahead of schedule. No businesses closed up shop during the project, although some businesses saw sales slip.

More blocks of Front Street are expected to be renovated in the coming years.