Ремонт Брод-стрит в Огасте перенесен на осень 2026 года из-за сложностей с подземными коммуникациями

Augusta updates Broad Street schedule as crews navigate aging underground lines AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Augusta’s Engineering Department has released an updated construction schedule for the Broad Street Improvement Project, pushing work on several blocks later into the fall, with the final section now stretching into early 2027. The city says the main business corridor through 5th Street should still be cleared by the end of this year. City leaders approved an extra $2 million this summer to speed up work through the main business corridor. The finished project is expected to add streetscape and accessibility improvements, including more space for outdoor dining in some areas. Businesses have months of construction left to get through first. Underground surprises reshaping the timeline Every time crews break ground on Broad Street, they are digging up decades-old infrastructure, and some of what they are finding is reshaping the timeline. Dr. Hameed Malik, director of engineering for Augusta, said Broad Street is one of the most challenging projects because crews are working in a historic area where infrastructure was placed roughly 100 years ago. “There’s no good documentation to see where these utilities are, especially what’s underneath the road,” Malik said. Malik said what’s underneath is a web of water, sewer, power, gas and storm lines. “And these are all clay pipes still sitting there,” Malik said. The city says replacing that aging infrastructure is part of the rebuild. Working more blocks at once means less room above ground, too. Parking impacted during construction Malik estimates 60 to 70 parking spaces are temporarily impacted. He said the city has added 62 temporary spaces, plus about 50 permanent spaces along 12th Street and Jones Street. According to the city’s engineering department, on-street parking along the curb is temporarily affected within active construction areas as crews complete work within and around sidewalks and curbing. Approximately 30 parking spaces per block may be temporarily unavailable while active construction is underway, though the city describes these as temporary impacts rather than permanent parking losses. The city has also expanded parking options during construction through additional leased spaces and existing public parking resources, including the 9th Street Parking Deck and parking at the Richmond County Board of Education deck, which is available after 5 p.m. and on weekends. The parking map now stretches beyond Broad Street to Jones Street between 13th and 10th streets, Ellis Street, 9th and Reynolds streets, and the 9th Street deck. The city says there is no anticipated net loss of parking as a result of the project. If pre-construction parking spaces were configured to current standards, the corridor would have had approximately 620 parking spaces. Upon completion of the current improvements, approximately 625 parking spaces are expected to be available. Parking availability, construction impacts and business access are monitored through daily on-site coordination by the Augusta Engineering construction team assigned to the project, according to the city. Conditions are also reviewed as part of weekly construction progress meetings. “There will never be a perfect design to start with,” Malik said. “You have to have a good confidence on that design, and then you have to have good experience to deal with the situation we deal with.” Updated construction windows The city says multiple construction zones are now active at the same time, allowing crews to make steady progress on utility upgrades, streetscape improvements and infrastructure work. The revised schedule reflects current field conditions, weather impacts and coordination needs with utilities and downtown stakeholders. The updated schedule breaks down anticipated construction windows for each section of Broad Street: - 13th Street to 12th Street: began April 1, 2026, ends Sept. 14, 2026 - 12th Street to 11th Street: began May 20, 2026, ends Oct. 12, 2026 - 11th Street to 10th Street: began Aug. 11, 2026, ends Oct. 26, 2026 - 10th Street to 9th Street: began Aug. 14, 2026, ends Nov. 19, 2026 - 9th Street to 8th Street (James Brown Linear Park): began Aug. 20, 2026, ends Dec. 18, 2026 - 8th Street to 7th Street: begins Aug. 27, 2026, ends Oct. 12, 2026 - 7th Street to 6th Street: begins Sept. 3, 2026, ends Oct. 21, 2026 - 6th Street to 5th Street: begins Sept. 10, 2026, ends Oct. 30, 2026 - 5th Street to Segment III: begins Dec. 16, 2026, ends Feb. 25, 2027 Work across these segments includes underground utility upgrades, streetscape and accessibility enhancements and other infrastructure improvements intended to support businesses and make the corridor easier and safer to navigate on foot, by car and by bike. Compared to a schedule the city provided in May 2026, most segments now show later start dates and later end dates, with lane impacts extending farther into the fall and winter than originally planned. The city’s engineering department said Friday, Aug. 14, had been the original target date for substantial completion of the block between 13th and 12th streets. The south side of that block, along Ellis Street, is substantially complete, while work continues on the north side along Jones Street. The city said the overall project schedule remains on track, with improvements within the Broad Street business corridor from 13th Street to 5th Street expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The city said the schedule and duration of work within individual blocks may shift as construction progresses, primarily to accommodate installation of new stormwater infrastructure, and block-by-block schedules may also be adjusted if crews encounter conflicts with existing underground utilities or other unforeseen subsurface conditions. Communication with downtown businesses The city said it has prioritized consistent, proactive communication with downtown businesses, stakeholders and the broader community throughout the project. Project-related communications are distributed to the project’s subscriber list, posted to AugustaDTP.com and Augustaga.gov and shared on the city’s social media channels, including construction and traffic updates, monthly newsletters and regular digital updates. The project team also communicates directly with business owners who request information or have questions about construction activity affecting their specific location. The city said it shares project information with community partners including the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Authority. The city has also engaged local vendors to produce videos highlighting downtown businesses and sharing construction-related information, and provided the footage for businesses’ own use. Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.