The block of Queen Street between King and Meeting streets will be closed on Monday, October 20, for about four weeks.
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It's being closed so a new water line can be installed as part of the King Street Streetscape Project.
The city elaborated in an e-mailed press release:
King Street will be open but reduced to one lane between Broad and Market.
During this closing, King Street will not be accessible to vehicles from Queen Street. Queen Street will accommodate 2- way traffic to Meeting Street between King and Meeting Streets. Pedestrian traffic will be accommodated.
Queen Street will be blocked just past the entrance to the Charleston County Parking Garage on Queen Street, allowing the exits and entrance to the garage to be used by parking customers during this period. This traffic change means that vehicles will be directed to leave Queen Street by way of Meeting Street. A STOP SIGN with a RIGHT TURN ONLY arrow will be at the corner of Queen and Meeting Streets next to the Mills House Hotel. Traffic will be allowed to turn right ONLY onto Meeting Street. All loading zones on Queen Street will be temporarily closed to accommodate the two-way traffic. No loading/unloading or parking will be allowed on the block. Alternate arrangements have been made to accommodate deliveries in this area. CARTA will redirect their buses from Queen Street.
Charleston City Police will be on site for the first days of this change to help direct traffic from this block on Queen Street, especially during peak hours. Once the installations are complete, the street will be reopened to the normal pattern of one-way traffic on this block.
The King Street Streetscape for the portion from Market to Broad Street began in June 2008 and the completion is anticipated in the spring, 2009. The project includes sewer main relining (which has been completed), new SCE&G electrical duct bank, a new CWS water main, new street lights, trolley track removal, new bluestone sidewalks and granite curbs and new asphalt for the roadway. The budget is $4.5 million which includes assessments of adjacent businesses and buildings.
The city maintains a streetscape project page to keep residents updated.
