Portion of Queen Street set to open within 10 days

By Junious Smith III

Positive news is on the horizon for a portion of Queen Street.

As construction continues on the Queen Street Streetscape Project, Charles Hughes Construction has worked on extending pedestrian areas, installing diagonal parking spaces and installing concrete pavement. On Thursday, one of the final steps took place as concrete was poured around 5 a.m., with hopes of having the road operational within 10 days, according to Charles Hughes Construction owner Charles Hughes.

“We poured about 120 yards of concrete this morning with a pump truck,” Hughes said. “With this intersection, it will take seven days for the concrete to cure before we open it back up (and we) hope to have Caswell Street back open by next Friday.”

Charles Hughes Construction Landscape Superintendent Philip Southerland said scores of trees have also been planted down Queen Street.

“We have about 100 planted so far, going from Spring Hill and out to about Blount Street,” Southerland said. “They’re highbeam overcup oak trees, which bring fall colors with yellow leaves and open up the streets so people can see the neat architecture of buildings. When the leaves drop in the fall, there’s more interest with light shining on them in the winter.”

Businesses on Queen Street have remained open, although some have been affected from construction. Paul Mixner, cook at the Hawk’s Nest Café and General Store, said hearing about construction nearing its end is great news.

“It’s been tough for us because we’re doing about a fifth of the business on an average day, so hearing this project is nearing the end is wonderful,” Mixner said.