Construction began last week in downtown Columbia on a streetscape project that aims to spruce up Main Street.

The first phase of the project was funded years ago through a state grant. This grant paid for engineering of the entire multi-phase beautification project and for a couple of Main Street blocks near Columbia City Hall to be completed.

Features of the project include widened sidewalks, reconstructed curbing and ornamental streetlights, among other features.

The section currently under construction will run from south of Cherry Street to north of Oak Street, or approximately 2.5 blocks, Columbia city engineer Ron Williams said.

“The project is supposed to be substantially complete by Dec. 15,” he said. “Obviously, items such as plantings and pavement striping will be put off until early next year due to weather.”

Williams added that the city has applied for Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program funding to construct another section of the project from where the current construction will end north of Oak Street to north of Locust Street.

“When the funding will be awarded is anyone’s guess,” he said.

Valmeyer Road reopens

The section of Valmeyer Road between D Road and Veterans Parkway in Columbia has reopened to two-way traffic following a bridge deck replacement project that had resulted in a road closure these past couple of months.