For several days beginning Monday, March 23, access to and from Main Street will be blocked at Vandalia Street as part of the ongoing water main replacement project. The closure is expected to last up to five days, weather permitting.

However, while eastbound and westbound access will not be possible, drivers already on Main Street will be able to continue north or south through the intersection while this work is underway. Drivers will be able to bypass the East Vandalia closure to or from Main Street by using South Buchanan and West Schwarz Street. To bypass the West Vandalia closure to or from Main Street, drivers can use West Street and West Schwarz Street.

The closure is part of the North Main Street water main replacement and streetscape improvement project, which got underway in early January to replace a more than 120-year-old water main in downtown Edwardsville and make other needed infrastructure and pedestrian accessibility and safety upgrades. The work is expected to wrap up later this summer, with landscaping and plantings along this section of North Main Street to follow in the fall.

Barricades will prohibit access to the Main Street intersection but there will be local access to Plaza Court and nearby businesses on the east side, and to the Walgreens parking lot and Mark Twain parking lot on the west side. Crosswalks at the intersection of Main and Vandalia streets will be closed while this work is underway, but access to the businesses will be maintained.

This portion of the water main replacement will be primarily along East Vandalia near Main Street, but once the intersection work is complete, construction crews will continue along West Vandalia as well as proceed with ongoing work along North Main Street. Drivers are asked to please be alert for construction crews in the work zone and occasional lane shifts and delays, as necessary throughout the project.

The City is working with Keller Construction to complete this project, which is partially funded by a Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Program grant. Find construction details, an expected timeline and the latest updates on this approximately $4.89 million improvement project by visiting: www.cityofedwardsville.com/cityprojects