In a bid to expedite the Downtown Mill Avenue Refresh project, the City of Tempe has laid out plans to close southbound Mill Avenue between Fifth Street and University Drive, starting June 16 through August 8, as per official announcements. The closure, expected to shorten construction time by about three months, aims to streamline operations by adding extra crews and extending work hours into the night, thus promising business as usual before the autumn-season rush.
Local businesses along Mill Avenue will remain accessible for pedestrians and riders of transit, bikes, scooters, and wheelchairs; however, vehicular detours will be implemented, construction will take place day and night and visitors may need to navigate around some changes in parking, especially where westside on-street parking is affected from Fifth Street to Seventh Street. All parking garages and the streetcar service will operate despite intermittent pauses dictated by the construction's ebb and flow.
The undertaking, first of its kind in 40 years for Downtown Tempe, brings a slew of enhancements such as new electrical and irrigation systems, expanded art-adorned brick sidewalks, fresh paving, and the planting of 112 new trees alongside the conservation of 26 Ficus trees.
As the city braces for a quieter period with Arizona State University’s fall semester yet to begin, this accelerated effort promises a bustling, rejuvenated downtown ready for the populace and tourists alike, as the summer lull gives way to academic and commercial activities once again parking will not be a hassle due to the Tempe Trip wayfinding site – offering essential visit-planning tools like real-time parking availability, transit options and optimized paths to destinations.
Although the project's current timeline maps out a swift advancement, factors such as weather, machinery malfunctions, or other unforeseen complications could still arise and affect progress. To stay informed of any such updates, Tempe residents and visitors are encouraged to subscribe to project emails through the city’s announcement channels.
