New look for downtown shaping up
Work to change the landscape of downtown Roanoke continues.
The curve to Knight Avenue was altered to make it easier for big trucks to turn. In front of the old Martin Theatre shell there will be a patio-like effect spreading out, and pavers will create a walking area across the street where another, similar island will be created.
Goodwin, Mills and Cawood’s Keith Strickland, transportation engineer, and Jane Ross, a landscape architect, visited Monday to check on the project.
“It’s always good to see progress on paving,” Ross said. Strickland said “We’ve got a good contractor, a good administration here with the city and we are fine-tuning the design.”
They were discussing making what is now a steep ramp up from the old Phillips Brothers Hardware building handicap accessible under the Americans With Disabilities Act. One side will be steps while the outer side in front of the shoe shop will be for for wheelchair use.
General contractor John Peavy said he hopes to be pouring concrete sidewalks Thursday. It has to be done carefully allowing for concrete expansion and retraction without any damage. To walk on concrete it must be cured for 24 hours but to drive on it takes about seven days of curing.
