The government plaza behind the Old Guilford County Court House is getting an $8.3 million makeover and, in order for that to happen, it’s going to be off limits until at least the summer of 2025 and it will be a major headache for people visiting the three highly used buildings around the plaza.

What’s known officially as the “Guilford County Government Plaza Construction Project” is scheduled to start on Monday, March 4.

The plaza has a lot of foot traffic since it sits between the courthouse, the Old  Guilford County Court House and the Greensboro city hall.

The good news is that people who frequent the Guilford County courthouse are going to be in great shape because they’ll have to use a steep staircase before entering.

The huge project will include the repair of structural elements of the plaza parking deck and the excavation of the plaza to make way for a new waterproofing system and  new landscaping.

On March 4, work crews will start putting up signs on the plaza and start setting the boundaries. Two days later, on March 6, the plaza will be closed to the public until the job is finished – which is expected to be in June 2025. That’s if everything goes according to plan.  (A rendering of the finished project can be seen above.)

 The closure includes the Millennium Gate entrance, the Phill G. McDonald Plaza, the David E. Hickman Plaza, and the stage area with the blue roofing.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial and the Law Enforcement Memorial will be removed and kept in storage for safe keeping until they can be put back in place in late 2025.

On Wednesday, Feb. 28, the county provided the following information for people who wish to enter the old courthouse where much of Guilford County government is housed: “During the plaza closure, residents visiting the Guilford County Old Courthouse will be able to access the building by entering through the front entrance on 301 West Market Street, where the security scanners will be stationed. During the construction phase, the Old Courthouse plaza entrance will be closed. Throughout the project, Guilford County will always maintain an ADA ramp as an entrance to the county building. For now, residents will be able to access the ADA ramp on the right side of the Guilford County Old Courthouse. As mobilization and construction moves forward the current ADA ramp will temporarily close and a temporary ADA ramp will be constructed on the left entrance of the building that faces the Truist building. The temporary ramp is expected to be up for approximately four months. Access to the Truist parking lot will remain open during the Governmental Plaza Construction Project.”

As for people visiting the Guilford County Courthouse, starting on March 6, they’ll need to access the courthouse by climbing the steep and scary stairs near the metered parking lot on West Washington Street and South Eugene Street. Visitors will have to enter the courthouse on the left side of the building, near the Melvin Municipal Building.

 Those with disabilities will be able to use the Guilford County Courthouse entrance on 201 S. Eugene St. (Anyone who has questions or concerns about the courthouse entrance, can contact Taylor Chavis-Banks at taylor.e.chavis.banks@nccourts.org or (336) 412-7910.)

Construction fencing on the Government Plaza is expected to be up on March 10. Full construction – including concrete demolition –  is scheduled to begin the following day.

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