East Clayton Street Improvements Project Update -
May 23, 2022

Rendering by Kelsey Brooks, WLA Studio

Initial Milling & Paving (N. Lumpkin to College Avenue)

Initial milling and removal of old pavement and initial new paving on at least one block of East Clayton Street
North Lumpkin Street to College Avenue (may extend some beyond College Avenue based on pavement levels)
Weather permitting, begins on the afternoon of Monday, May 23 and runs until Wednesday, May 25 or until completion
Lane closures during this time, but no road closures are expected
Parking spaces on these blocks will be closed until the paving is complete and temporary striping is complete

While this initial paving will help rebuild up the base and level the paving on these blocks, final paving for the entire four-block project area will not take place until the full project is nearly complete. The rainbow crosswalk will be installed after final paving.

East Clayton Street Improvements Project Timeline Update

Work on the East Clayton Street Improvements Project continues with extensive streetscape work in the area. This includes features such as sidewalks, brick pavers, granite strips, traffic poles, light poles, landscape areas and fencing, irrigation, curb and gutter, overhead lighting, and pedestrian gathering areas, among other amenities.

Some final streetscape components such as tree installations, public art, parking meters, cigarette disposal stations, and furniture will be installed after other streetscape features are finished in project areas.

The current tentative work schedule is noted below to get areas to 75-80% completion. Schedules are subject to change based on weather and other factors:

East Clayton Street
- North Jackson Street to North Thomas Street Block (North Side – 3 sections) – Remainder of May 2022
- North Jackson Street to North Thomas Street Block (South Side – 3 sections) – June 2022
North Jackson Street
- East Clayton Street to East Washington Street Block (Both Sides) – End of June - Mid-July 2022
- East Broad Street to East Washington Street Block (West Side) – July 2022
Repaving and restriping – End of May – August 2022 in three, 1-2 day segments (weather permitting)
Rainbow Crosswalk – After final paving / restriping
Tree Planting – Ongoing through 2022
Public Art – Installation begins late July 2022
Clayton Street Eco-Stations – End of 2022 (depending on fabrication/material availability)
Portland Loo (College Avenue Parking Deck area) – Late fall 2022 (depending on fabrication / material availability)

Sidewalks will be kept open as much as possible. Businesses remain open during the construction and access will be provided to their entrances except for possible brief closures that will be arranged with each business.

These areas have been largely completed, with mainly only finishing work and final streetscape components needed:

East Clayton Street
- North Lumpkin Street to College Avenue Block – both sides
- College Avenue to North Jackson Street Block – both sides
North Jackson Street
- East Broad Street to East Clayton Street Block – West side

East Clayton Street Improvements Project Map

East Clayton Street Project Map - College Avenue to Jackson Street

Tree Replacements

The trees are being planted in planters better designed for urban spaces with special structural soil. These trees will include October Glory Red Maple, Avalyn Laurel Oak, Golden Globe Gingko, European Hornbeam, Chinese Ironwood, Collynair American Hornbeam, and Biloxi Crepe Myrtle.

More trees will be replanted in the area than were removed.

Tree replacement has been a part of the East Clayton Street Improvements Project since the beginning of the project. Many of the former trees were not designed for an urban environment and were not suited for confined spaces. The planters that encase them and the soil used is not as well-designed for this kind of environment as are the currently-designed planters and soil.

New trees better suited to an urban environment will be planted in spaces that are better designed to handle their root systems. These new trees should last for decades, if not longer, without causing the problems of these older ones.

Public Art

The artist for the Clayton Street Improvements Public Art, Eric Leshinsky, continues working on his fabrication. Artwork is expected for installation beginning in late July 2022.

Overhead Lighting

Low-voltage festoon lighting has been installed from pole to pole, parallel to the sidewalk and trees, along most of the corridor on East Clayton Street. Only parts of one block remain for light installation. Once the trees reach a large enough size, additional lighting will be added to the trees.

Stormwater System

A water quality treatment unit will remove trash, oil, and sediment near the downstream outfall in conjunction with the existing underground facility located on East Broad Street at the Firefly Trail entrance.

Treating this larger area will still eventually allow pressure washing of the streetscape once the project is completed.

Phase 1 of the plan will be installed as part of this project and is scheduled to begin in mid-August 2022.

Rainbow Crosswalk

In June 2020, the Mayor and Commission approved the installation of a rainbow crosswalk in support of the LGBTQIA+ community. The crosswalk will be placed at the College Avenue / East Clayton Street intersection once the project is completed and East Clayton Street receives its final repaving and striping, likely by late summer 2022.

Other Related Projects

Public Restroom Facility (Portland Loo)

The public restroom facility - the Portland Loo model - was approved by the Mayor and Commission on October 5, 2021.

Although outside of the project's area and technically not part of the East Clayton Street project, it is nearby. The restroom will be located in front of the College Avenue parking deck near the intersection of College Avenue and Washington Street. It is expected to be installed in late fall 2022 based on fabrication and material availability.

Eco-Stations

The Mayor and Commission approved the designs and layouts of Eco-Stations in April 2021. Although not technically a part of this streetscape project, as they will be in areas other than East Clayton Street, they are being planned and designed while the work is in progress.

Eco-stations are enclosed areas used to gather trash and recycling from businesses and residents in order to avoid bags and recycling being placed directly on the streetscape / sidewalk. Bags left on the curbs leak, are unsightly, cause pedestrian conflicts, and can be a safety hazard.

Solid Waste, the Athens Cultural Affairs Commission, and SPLOST will finalize a call for art for the wrapping of the eco-stations once the design details are completed and fabrication begins.

The eco-stations are expected to be installed by the end of 2022 based on fabrication and material availability.

Updated Overall Streetscape Tentative Schedule

N. Lumpkin Street to College Avenue - Completed except for finishing items
College Avenue to Jackson Street - Completed except for finishing items
Jackson Street to Thomas Street - June - July 2022
Jackson Street (Broad Street to Washington Street) - May - July 2022
Wall Street - Completed except for finishing items

Schedule is tentative and subject to change. It is highly dependent on weather and underground factors. More detailed information will be provided in block by block and section by section areas as those areas come closer to construction work.