On time and on budget; two things you don't hear that often these days. But the Virginia Street Bridge Project is turning out to be an exception and has hit new milestones on the road to completion.
"Q&D Construction pulled out all of the supports that were underneath the bridge and the river diversions...and the river is flowing freely like it was before," said Kerrie Koski, Project Manager.
If temperatures rise and water starts moving quickly, the project is safe.
"What happens in the spring or if it happens in the next week or month, who knows, we could see a rise in the water but that will no longer be an issue for us," said Koski.
First and Virginia Street near City Hall was closed last week for construction crews to lay concrete for the roadway and sidewalks, but is the last road closure people can expect to see until the project is completed.
The Basement inside the Old Post Office building has felt the effects of the road closures and parking shortages.
"We have had a problem with parking," said Kinzie McClintick with Global Coffee. "Our customers and the employees that park here have no where to park because they are in the way."
"The Basement is hard to find because we only have one opening right now so once the bridge construction is done we will get that second opening for customers to come in and actually find our businesses," said Jake Wartgow with RAWBRY Juice Bar.
They are hoping that an end justifies the means for them.
"Once people start walking down to see the bridge's construction they will want to come in and see the Basement and it's just good for business," said Wartgow.
The bridge's ribbon cutting is for this May.
