Contractors re-install a decorative sidewalk at Main Street and Concord Road Friday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

The N.C. DOT’s repaving project on Concord Road is close to finished as contractors last week restored crosswalks along the route. Meanwhile, a parking lot that has been relieving parking congestion near the Stowe’s Corner building downtown will close after its temporary permit expires this fall. And the town has begun striping parking spaces along South Street to provide additional parking.

CONCORD ROAD NEARLY FINISHED

Contractors for the state Department of Transportation last week finished re-painting crosswalks along Concord Road between Main Street and Davidson College’s Baker Sports Complex entrance.

Several crosswalks were removed during the DOT’s recent repaving project, which laid down a new surface from Main Street to the East Rocky River Road roundabout. The repaving was part of a broader N.C. DOT project to repave Concord Road and East Rocky River from downtown Davidson to the Cabarrus County line. (See NC DOT to repave Concord, E. Rocky River roads”

While the crosswalks have been restored, two other items remain. Town public works director Doug Wright said bike lanes along Concord Road also will be remarked, and thermoplastic cyclist logos will be installed

Meanwhile, a red wildcat paw that had been installed in 2009 on the pavement at Concord Road and Baker Drive, near the entrance to Davidson College’s Baker Sports Complex, also was lost in the repaving.

Mr. Wright said that it will be up to the college to replace the paw.

Davidson college athletics spokesman Marc Gignac said the college plans to restore the paw in August.

Jason Bell of the town public works department painted lines for new on-street parking on South Street Friday. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

The Concord Road and East Rocky River Road resurfacing projects were part a $4.3 million contract that NC DOT awarded to Ferebee Corp. of Charlotte. All the work was due to be completed by Aug. 1.

SOUTH STREET PARKING

Town officials and the landlord for the new Flatiron Kitchen & Tap Room in the Stowe’s Corner building downtown say a temporary parking lot constructed on a vacant lot at 211 South St. will remain just that – temporary.

Landlord Michael Orlando and town planning officials say the 90-day permit for the 12-space lot will expire in October, and not be renewed.

In April, Mr. Orlando and town officials worked out a deal for the temporary parking that they said could help relieve potential parking issues at the new restaurant, which is expected to open in the coming weeks. But some nearby property owners objected to the lot, saying it was out of place in a residential neighborhood.

Town officials say another solution to parking concerns could be additional on-street parking on South Street. Last Friday, public works employees were painting lines for parking on the east side of the street in the 200 block. They said they also eventually would be painting parking space lines on the street’s west side as well.

(See DavidsonNews.net’s past coverage of the restaurant construction under the “Flatiron Kitchen” tag.)

CORNELIUS INTERSECTIONS CLOSING

Work began earlier this month that will close two railroad crossings in downtown Cornelius. Railroad Street and Smith Road – to the north and south of the N.C. 115/Catawba Avenue intersection – are being closed as part of the long-term overhaul of the big intersection. See more in our July 2 news report, 2 Cornelius intersections to close next week.”

RELATED COVERAGE

July 2, 2010, 2 Cornelius intersections to close next week.”

June 5, 2010, “Photo of the Day: Busy day on Concord Road”

May 27, 2010 “Concord Road resurfacing to begin Tuesday”

March 9, 2010, “NC DOT to repave Concord, E. Rocky River roads”

Feb. 19, 2009, “Entrance to Cats’ lair gets a pavement pawprint”