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Construction has resumed on Park Street SE in Vienna after a winter storm temporarily halted a months-long sidewalk project.
Crews returned earlier this week to a recently cleared section of Park Street, where several inches of snow and ice had accumulated. Work is advancing about two blocks at a time, with traffic reduced to one lane and workers directing vehicles in alternating directions.
The weather delay has not changed the anticipated spring completion, according to Vienna Public Information Director Karen Thayer. However, additional storms could extend the schedule.
“Potential weather conditions are usually factored into a construction project timeline,” Thayer said. “As of now, the Town expects the Park Street sidewalk project to be completed sometime in the spring.”
The project began in October and covers a one-mile stretch between Fardale Street SE and the Washington & Old Dominion Trail crossing near the Vienna Community Center. An aging asphalt path is being replaced with a wider, more level concrete sidewalk.
Town officials said the old path had deteriorated and become unsafe for pedestrians. Cracked and uneven pavement, along with tree roots pushing up beneath the surface, created multiple tripping hazards.
Vienna says the new sidewalk is intended to provide residents with a safer route to schools, workplaces, parks and businesses.
Some trees must be removed to accommodate the wider sidewalk, although the town said it sought to preserve as many as possible. Staff members have been working with Park Street homeowners to replace trees eliminated during construction.
Crews generally work from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. During construction hours, the northbound lane is typically closed and traffic shares the southbound side of Park Street.
The project is expected to cost about $600,000 and is funded through Vienna’s allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Vienna received $17.1 million from the federal package approved by Congress in 2021 to help state and local governments recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The town has used the funding for infrastructure and capital projects, police body cameras, software and cybersecurity improvements, economic development assistance and other initiatives.