Enhancements that aim to create a pedestrian-friendly event plaza in the heart of Downtown will soon be under way as part of the transformative Abram Street Rebuild project.
To allow construction to be completed more quickly and efficiently, the City of Arlington will close Abram Street in front of City Hall to all traffic between May 1 and June 30. Eastbound and westbound Abram Street lanes will be closed between Center and West streets for this phase of the project, which aims to create a safer, more attractive space for on-street festivals and other outdoor events that draw visitors to Downtown.
Click here to see the Abram Street project area and detours.
The voter-approved Abram Street Rebuild between Cooper and Collins streets is on track to be complete in March 2020.
What does this project include?
Contractors will work six days a week from May 1 to June 30 to complete this phase, which includes:
• Intricate brick paver work to create a plaza on Abram Street between City Hall and Founders Plaza, a public park that is also home to Levitt Pavilion Arlington.
• Adding retractable bollards, which are used to temporarily close a street to vehicle traffic for events.
• Adding enhanced electrical capabilities to provide support for the growing number of outdoor events held at the park.
Why is the City closing this section of Abram Street for this project?
Closing traffic between Center and West streets for a two-month period will allow contractors to complete this phase of construction more quickly and more efficiently.
For example, the decorative colored concrete bands planned for Pecan Street can be poured in one day, rather than in phases, allowing for consistent color and texture. The hydraulic bollard system that will allow for temporary Abram Street closures during on-street events is also complex. The closure will allow the system to be installed at two intersections simultaneously, instead of in phases, and will help eliminate potential installation errors.
Additionally, a complete closure will also be less confusing for drivers during this phase, which would have required alternating closures of one direction of travel on multiple occasions.
How can I get around this closure?
Traffic detours are available on UTA Boulevard to the south of Abram Street or on Main Street and Division Street to the north of Abram.
Will free outdoor concerts still be held at Levitt Pavilion Arlington during the closure?
Yes! Levitt Pavilion Arlington’s summer concert season begins May 17. Be sure to visit the Levitt website for concert dates and other information.
What is the Abram Street Rebuild Project?
Downtown is the final section of the City's Abram Street Rebuild, which started at the Grand Prairie city limits east of SH 360 in July 2014 and has progressed west to Collins Street over the past three and a half years.
The Abram Street project is one of the largest street rebuilding projects in the City's history. Abram Street is one of the major gateways into The American Dream City, providing access to the Entertainment District, Downtown, the Cultural District, the University of Texas at Arlington and other destinations.
Arlington voters approved funding for the project in 2008. Other funding includes water and sanitary sewer bond funds.
How do I stay up-to-date with lane closures and other news about the Abram Street Rebuild Project?
The City of Arlington is working closely with the Downtown Arlington Management Corporation through the MyAbram website and other outlets to communicate lane closures, construction milestones and other important information to residents, visitors and the business community during the two-year project. MyArlingtonTV's Downtown Arlington: Open for Business episodes are also available on the City's YouTube channel.
You can also track the progress of this project and many others happening throughout Arlington by visiting the City's Street Tracker webpage.
Additionally, the City has partnered with Waze to give drivers the best experience possible to get around town. Drivers can download Waze for free at www.waze.com/get for iOS and Android and see real-time traffic, find optimal routes, avoid road closures and more.
Abram Street, Enhance Regional Mobility
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