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LAS CRUCES - Revitalized, hardly.
Much of downtown Las Cruces remains buried under a mass of dirt as construction crews continue plodding forward in an estimated $3.6 million project to reopen North Main Street, from Las Cruces Avenue north to Mountain Avenue.
It might not mean much to some Las Crucens, but to downtown merchants and supporters of downtown revitalization they got an early Christmas present Thursday.
The intersection of Las Cruces Avenue at Main Street has completely reopened to eastbound and westbound traffic - at least for the holidays. The project is anticipated to resume in late January.
The work being done at that site includes relocating underground utilities at the intersection. When the construction fence was moved back early Thursday afternoon and cars, trucks and vans heading in opposite directions began taking advantage again.
"You don't realize how much you appreciate a route you take every day until it's been closed or detoured for a while," said Jenny Tirre, a Las Cruces secretary who works downtown and had gotten used to using the affected portion of Las Cruces Avenue to commute to and from work every day.
"Gosh, my whole life just got easier. It was down to just one lane, and nobody really knew whether it was only for cars going one way or the other. Sometimes, there were cars
"It's been inconvenient."
Greg Smith, president of the board of directors of the Downtown Las Cruces Partnership, a nonprofit organization supporting downtown revitalization, said Las Cruces Avenue's reopening is welcome news.
"It's exciting," Smith said. "Nobody can pretend they're indifferent about the reopening of the street. It will help downtown business who, honestly, have had a rough time dealing with all of the road construction. I don't think anyone is in imminent danger of closing, but the truth is that sales of businesses downtown have been down."
Particularly affected have been Main Street businesses from Las Cruces Avenue north to Mountain Avenue. Work began in late summer to reopen Main Street from Las Cruces to Mountain, and that area has become filled with detour signs to direct motorists on alternative routes to the businesses they want to get to.
"Before they started putting those signs up, I could understand where some of the (downtown) merchants would be concerned about people being able to find another way to get to them," said Terri Banegas, a Las Cruces homemaker. "But after those signs went up a few months ago, it is easier, more assuring to people that the businesses are open and that we can get there."
Public Works Director Mike Johnson said every effort is being done to maintain access to downtown businesses, and they remain open.
"There still is access to businesses," he said.
Smith urged patience. Construction to reopen 1,300 feet of Main Street, from Las Cruces to Mountain, is anticipated to take about nine more months to complete. There are plans to begin work to reopen two blocks of Main, from Griggs Avenue south to May Avenue, in October. Main Street, from Amador Avenue north to Mountain isn't expected to be completely reopened until late 2012.
"Little by little we're getting there," Smith said. "What is encouraging is that we continue to have interest from businesses who are considering opening on Main Street. I can't get into any specific details, but we should have at least one new business opening there in the coming year, and I'm optimistic there could be more. We'll have to wait and see."
La Iguana, the only restaurant directly on Main Street, opened Wednesday. As construction progresses on Main Street, Smith said other improvements are coming.
"There are plans to improve the facades on buildings along Main Street, particularly those where the (road) construction is now happening. Two buildings, the Center for Spiritual Living and the Moose Lodge, have already made those improvements to their buildings, and other property owners have started work to do the same."
Johnson said construction of the eastern portion of a roundabout at the north end of central downtown will likely begin shortly after the first of the year. The western portion has been under construction for several months, but a portion of it will reopen so that southbound traffic on Main can have access to businesses and other downtown areas.
Steve Ramirez can be reached (575) 541-5452
A Christmas "gift"
• Las Cruces Avenue, between Church Street and Water Street, has been temporarily reopened to eastbound and westbound traffic.
• That portion of street has either been limited to one lane, one-way traffic or closed altogether for about five months.
• All downtown businesses are open, and access to them is being maintained.
• Las Cruces Avenue, between Church and Water, will remain open through the Christmas and New Year's holiday.
• Construction to finish rebuilding the Las Cruces at Main Street intersection is anticipated to resume in late January.
• Construction to reopen about 1,300 feet of Main Street, from Las Cruces north to Mountain Avenue, is anticipated to continue through late September.
• The estimated cost to reopen Main Street, from Las Cruces to Mountain, is $3.6 million.
• Construction to reopen Main Street from Griggs Avenue south to Amador Avenue, is anticipated to begin in October.
• Downtown Main Street, from Amador to Mountain, is expected to be opened in late 2012.
