Progress Along Main Street

It’s been a little while since I last updated on East Aurora Main Street construction. I’m not sure where the schedule stands now, as the NY DOT expects construction to be completed in Spring 2010, but months ago I’d heard estimates of it being done by next month.

Regardless, good progress is being made. Today the circle was getting its top coat of blacktop, as has the rest of Main Street up to the circle. Stripes were being painted on Main Street, and it appears that a center lane for left turns will help improve traffic flow—or at least now we won’t have to pull off that infamous NY-driver move of passing on the right!

The new sidewalks are a pleasure to any pedestrian, especially those of us weary of rough temporary pavement and/or mud. In the evening looking west down Main, one can enjoy the sunset and watch the Victorian-era street lamps switch on along dramatic parallel lines that make up the new roadway and sidewalks. This time of year it’s especially pretty, as Main is flanked by golden, orange, and red maples. Sidewalks have also been extended beyond their old terminus, passing the former Pizza Hut and heading west out 20A toward the EA Post Office.

My apologies in advance that the photos are going to mess up the formatting of this post. Pictures and Blogger don’t seem to mix real well, and I don’t feel like setting up a Flickr gallery for just four pix.

Main Street looking westNew CVS

East Main

The Circle

Construction Updates Following Yesterday

In conjunction with my article published in yesterday’s paper, I figured I’d do a little “East Aurora Main Street construction update”.

It has been over a week since I shot the set of photos that complemented yesterday’s post, and as for when I wrote that article, even longer. Since the last photo shoot, quite a bit of progress has been made. There are new sidewalks. Victorian street lamps are appearing. And even some parts of Main are at least roughly repaved—better than they've been.

Patrons continue to get out and enjoy the patios at many Main Street eateries, surprising when you see the amount of dust in the air as construction goes straight through the dinner hour.

I may even make construction updates a regular posting topic on here. In the meantime, enjoy the slideshow below. Or click here to view the full screen version, and be sure to choose “Show Info” near the top right of the slideshow screen (that way you get to read all my witty little captions).

Construction on Main Street in East Aurora

In Buffalo News' "My View" column on the op-eds page, I had an article published today. If you care to read the full text, click here. Otherwise, I'll give a brief summary:

I wrote about my hometown and about the damage it's sustaining as Main Street is tore up and reconstructed. I also wrote about many of the challenges avid pedestrains, such as myself, face. Accompanying is a Flickr gallery illustrating my article:

(NOTE: use the link for a full-screen slidedshow Choose "Show Info" to read photo captions)