Beginning on Monday, Jan. 3, North Eugene Street between Smith Street and Bellemeade Street will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Eugene Street is being closed for the installation of a waterline and also to complete the next phase of the Eugene-Bellemeade Streetscape project, which will include new sidewalks, curbs, gutters and planters.

In 2016 the voters of Greensboro passed a $25 million bond referendum to fund downtown streetscapes and enhancements.  The Eugene-Bellemeade streetscape is one of the projects being funded with those 2016 bonds.

According to the “City of Greensboro 2016 Bond Tracker” webpage, of that $25 million in 2016 bond funds, $3.2 million has been spent on downtown streetscapes and enhancements.  The Bond Tracker page states that an additional $8.4 million has been obligated and that $13.3 million is remaining five years after the bonds passed.

The Bond Tracker page also states that all $25 million should be spent by the fall of 2024.

So according to the city website, in five years the city has spent $3.2 million on downtown streetscapes and plans to spend the remaining $21.8 million in less than two years.

It is estimated that vehicular access to North Eugene Street will be closed until April, but during that time pedestrian access will remain open as usual and signs will be posted to direct parking access for businesses along the closed portion of Eugene Street.

The press release also advises people that they may use the Eugene Street Parking Deck at 215 N. Eugene St. as an alternative to on-street parking in the area.

Parking in Greensboro parking decks is free for the first hour and after that is $1 per hour for a maximum of $10 per day.  Parking in the decks is free from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and after 9 p.m. there is a flat rate of $2 to enter the parking deck.