Construction Shows Signs of Progress at Winchester Pedestrian Mall

WINCHESTER, VA- After two months of construction, now rising through the landscape of dirt and heavy machinery are the first real signs of the pedestrian mall vision.

"Things are actually starting to take shape down here," says Kelly Henshaw, the city engineer. "We've completed the water and sewer installation on the south side of Loudoun Street to Cork, and they'll be finishing up, hopefully this week, the north end."

Construction crews have started installing new planters and landscaping, as well as laying concrete to prepare for the new bricks.

"In the next two to three weeks you're really going to have a good idea of what it's going to look like," Henshaw says. "They'll be starting to put down the pavers, starting at the center and moving north and south from the center."

City officials say as construction starts to wind down in the middle of the mall, there will be more cross-over walkways for customers to walk across center of the mall. They warn customers to watch their steps; however, because most of the walkways will be made of very slippery gravel.

To make the project more aesthetically pleasing, the Old Town Business Association has installed a mural project to cover the green construction barrier walls.

"It's been really interesting to meet lots of artists, which was really where my passion was in this was, to help form and artist community," says Dorian Brown, organizer of the Mural Project and President of the Old Town Business Association.

She says she wanted to "get people cohesive and involved in a singular project."

The art is the community's way to lend a hand, if not with a nail a hammer, with posters and paint.
If you are interested in donating art, you can contact the project coordinators at: the.otwba@gmail.com.