7th Avenue Streetscape
Milestone timeline:
![7th Avenue sign](https://www.hendersonvillenc.gov/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/uploads/city-news/2024/7th_avenue_sign.jpg?itok=C2ek0pNK)
The Seventh Avenue Streetscape Project is an investment in pedestrian, water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure, lighting and landscaping in the business district. It aims to improve walkability, improve connections to the Main Street Municipal Service District, and highlight the character of the historic district. Slated to begin construction in early 2024, the project area includes part of the intersection at 7th Avenue and Grove Street, 7th Avenue from the intersection to Maple Street, as well as a portion of Locust Street.
City Council authorized a contract with Harper General Contractors to lead the project in December 2023. The project is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.
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Documents
Construction has been slow going for the past several weeks due to the rain leaving us with muddy conditions, however, we have a big hurdle completed with AT&T relocating lines last week, which has caused several delays out of our control.
Recent work completed:
- Concrete sidewalk has been completed on both sides of Locust.
- Contractor has been installing silva cells and bio-cells along the south side.
- Utility subcontractor has been onsite this week working on stormwater in the Maple Street intersection area. This has taken an extended period of time due to locating the old underground utilities.
- The contractor is working today to move fencing on the east side of Locust down 7th to Maple into new locations.
- AT& T has relocated lines to new poles with current lines. AT&T will be replacing lines with small fiber lines, which will be located directly under the Duke lines and not at the lower height they currently are located.
Upcoming work:
- Duke Power to be on site Monday 8/19/24 to remove 5 poles inside the fence.
- Concrete sub should be installing C&G in areas where the silva and bio-cells have been installed.
- Electrical contractor will be installing conduit for lights and other items on the south side.
- Utility sub to continue to install stormwater and sanitary sewer in the Maple Street intersection area. When this is completed, an updated schedule for the Maple Street intersection reopening will be available.
- Coordination, material gathering, and installation work continues on the pedestrian signal relocation at the N. Grove intersection.
- After utility poles are removed, we anticipate an updated time frame for the Maple Street intersection
Separate Work:
Starting in the upcoming months, the Ashe St/7th Water and Sewer Project will commence with water/sewer upgrades on 7th Avenue and Ashe Street. There will be a neighborhood open house and information session in October with additional information. While there will be some traffic impacts associated with this work, it will not be to the degree the current streetscape project has impacted.
The Hendersonville Police Department has been working with Bruce Drysdale Administration to adjust the school drop-off and pick-up traffic pattern during the 7th Avenue Streetscape construction and closure of the intersection of 7th Avenue and Maple Street.
The only change being made to the Bruce Drysdale school traffic pattern is that 7th Avenue/Maple is no longer an entry point while the intersection is closed for construction. The entry points will only be accessible from the north side from N. Main Street at the Maple/Highland/Locust intersections.
The school will be communicating drop-off and pick-up reminders directly to parents and guardians.
We appreciate the collaboration of Bruce Drysdale staff and parents during the streetscape construction.
Harper General Contractors have been finalizing the intersection at MLK Blvd, Grove Street and 7th Avenue this week, and we are excited to have the intersection reopen just in time for July 4th.
Some landscaping work remains, but the gateway signage has been installed and vehicular traffic will reopen to access Grove Street as well as easier access to businesses and parking on the West end of the 7th Avenue Construction Site.
Starting on July 9th, the Maple Street intersection will be closed to complete the work needed in that section. There will be no vehicular access at the intersection of Maple and 7th Avenue during this period. A detour map will be provided.
Suggested routes to access businesses on 7th Avenue and Maple Street during Maple Intersection Closure
How to access the North West side of 7th Avenue Closure Area (Daddy D’s, Lux Salon, Cabbage Rose Event Venue, M&T Distillery, Tierney Floors, Homemade Pasta Noodles and Locust Street Businesses: Old Lab Mercantile, Sycamore Cycles)
Coming from North Main (Mini Golf):
- From North Main Street, turn South onto Maple Street OR Locust Street
- Private parking is available for businesses in rear of buildings, accessed on Track Street. On and off street parking is also available on Maple and Locust Streets.
West from 7th Avenue East (coming in from Lowes)
- From 7th Avenue East, turn right on Ashe Street all the way to the end of the street by the Boys and Girls Club
- Turn Left on Ray Avenue
- Turn Left on North Main Street, and take the next Left on Maple
Coming from MLK Jr. Blvd or Grove Street (coming North from Henderson County Courthouse):
- Follow Grove Street through intersection (at 7th Avenue Sign)
- Turn Right on Bearcat Blvd
- Turn Left on Locust Street – Parking is available for Daddy D’s, Lux Salon, and Old Lab Mercantile just before the closed construction area
- Turn Left on 8th Avenue to Maple Street, turn Left onto Maple Street to access Maple Street businesses that are North of 7th Avenue and informal parking in grass along Maple Street by the train tracks.
How to access businesses on the South Side of 7th Avenue Closure and Maple Street at the Historic Depot (Mini Batch Bakery, Underground Bakery/Independent Beans, Kilpatrick’s Upholstery, and Hendersonville Farmers Market on Saturdays)
From 7th Avenue East (from Lowes Area) - Note – there is informal parking along the Train Tracks on Boxcar Street
- From 7th Avenue East, turn left on Ashe Street. You will pass by the Hendersonville Police Department.
- Turn Right on to Hwy 64 West, get in the far left lane
- Turn Left onto Grove Street
- Turn Left onto 5th Avenue W
- Turn Left onto Maple Street, Public Parking is available on Maple Street and 5th Avenue.
- Water connections were completed at N Grove in the last 2 weeks. Final concrete was placed last Friday at N Grove intersection.
- Street trees, lighting and underground conduit has been installed along north side. Some utilities were transferred from the old polls to the new ones.
- Contractor has worked to install electric conduit for lighting.
- Paving has been completed in the N Grove intersection.
- Brick pavers have been placed in crosswalks at N Grove intersection.
- Curb and gutter has been installed along the east side of Locust street intersection.
- Contractor will continue to complete work to fully open the N Grove intersection, this work includes:
- completing the new sign
- landscaping
- striping
- final punch-list items
- The primary focus of concrete work will be moving to the south side of the street soon.
- Unfortunately, the ATT lines have not been moved to the new poles, therefore the old poles remain in place and will begin hindering the ability to efficiently perform the necessary work.
- The contractor is working to find ways to work between the poles, while minimizing interference with demolition and utility crews.
![Sign Installation 7th Avenue Streetscape Work](/sites/default/files/uploads/projects/images/media.jpg)
![7th Avenue Streetscape Work 7th Avenue Streetscape Work](/sites/default/files/uploads/projects/images/media_1.jpg)
![7th Avenue Streetscape Work 7th Avenue Streetscape Work](/sites/default/files/uploads/projects/images/media_2.jpg)
Project Updates
Work completed in last 2 weeks:
- Post construction verifications have been completed on waterlines. Engineering is working to complete final paperwork to certify the new lines for service.
- Concrete work has been focused on MLK intersection with most of the concrete curb and gutter completed.
- Street trees, up lighting, and decorative light poles have been installed on the north side from Locust to N. Grove.
- Bio-retention cells have been completed along the same section.
Schedule and updates:
City staff from Engineering, Downtown, and Administration have been working closely with project leadership at Harper General Contractors on scheduling closures and working toward a shared goal of project completion in a timely manner. City staff have been working with Harper to coordinate the project schedule in ways that don’t have a negative impact on the overall completion timeline.
City staff will be providing weekly project updates and share the timing of future significant impacts as information is available. Members of Harper’s team will continue to coordinate sidewalk and other access impacts to individual businesses as the project progresses.
Even though additional portions of sidewalks are being completed, the project area is still an active construction site, and we will continue to prioritize safety regarding pedestrian access.
Updates on Closures:
- The Grove Street intersection is expected to reopen in mid-July.
- The Maple Street Intersection will close AFTER the completion of the Grove intersection. This will allow the construction team to focus resources on completing infrastructure tie-ins and reopening the Grove intersection before closing the Maple intersection, which will also facilitate a less complicated detour and improved access points to businesses.