HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – The City of Harrisonburg is designing improvements along a stretch of North Main Street that will make travel safer by enhancing transportation options and filling gaps in existing sidewalk infrastructure.

Harrisonburg Public Works will host an open house Wednesday, Feb. 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Lucy F. Simms Center Auditorium, 620 Simms Ave., where community members will learn about the project and have an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback on proposed improvement designs.

The project will construct sidewalks on both sides of North Main Street, from Charles Street to Vine Street, to fill gaps between existing sidewalks. The road will be widened to create bike lanes between Holly Hill Drive and Vine Street. Pedestrian signals, ramps and crosswalks will be installed at the intersection with Vine Street/Mt. Clinton Pike. The project is funded through the Virginia Department of Transportation SMART SCALE program.

The project enhances safe pedestrian access through intersection improvements, connecting sidewalk with existing sidewalk infrastructure, and the addition of bicycle lanes.

“We are excited to add more transportation options along this corridor and create uninterrupted sidewalk from Harrisonburg’s north city limit to Downtown Harrisonburg,” Harrisonburg Public Works Director Tom Hartman said. “We look forward to seeing these gaps filled and building facilities that allow our residents to travel to, or closer to, their destination safely.”

Attendees of the open house will have the opportunity to:
• View educational displays about the improvement designs
• Speak directly with City staff about the project
• Express thoughts and questions through a public questionnaire that will be available during and after the event where there are proposed project improvements.

Information about the project is available on the City’s website at www.harrisonburgva.gov/transportation-projects. A questionnaire will be available at the open house to collect public thoughts/questions and will be available digitally until March 5, 2025. Written or oral questions and comments may be submitted to Brittany Clem-Hott by emailing brittany.clem-hott@harrisonburgva.gov or calling 540-434-5928, before or after the open house.