Over the last few days there’s been a lot of noise and a bit of dust on Union Avenue and Market Street. Holes about the size of manhole covers have been cut into the streets at strategic spots to install 17 automatic bollards, or retractable traffic barriers. They look better than the standard barricades we currently use and they are stronger, safer, and allow for easy employment, thus saving city workers time and effort.
The bollards will pop up in their stations and lock into place any time the streets are to be closed. Recently that has been often, as those streets are closed not only during markets, but for entire weekends. The streets will also be closed for a shorter time both before and after events because the bollards can be raised or retracted in an instant, rather than waiting for crews to place or remove the old barricades.
The streets have been closed for most of this week and will remain so through next week to allow for the installation by Design and Construction Services Inc. contractor crews.
Speaking of street closures:
This Friday evening heralds both the normal First Friday activities, but also, the 51st annual WIVK Christmas Parade. Jackson Avenue between State and N. Central streets will be closed from 2-9 p.m. for the First Friday Block Party hosted by Dogwood Arts and the Old City Neighborhood Association. Gay Street between Main Street and Magnolia Avenue will be closed for the 51st WIVK Christmas Parade which will feature National Baseball Hall of Fame 2024 inductee and University of Tennessee and Central High School graduate Todd Helton as the parade’s Grand Marshal.
On-street parking spaces in the parade-route area will be unavailable in the afternoon hours. Closing at 4:30 on Friday:
- Hill Avenue between Walnut Street & Howard Baker Jr. Avenue
- Main Street between Walnut and Gay streets
- Gay Street between Main Street & Hill Avenue
Roads in the weekend pedestrian zone will close at 5:30 p.m. and remain closed to vehicles until 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8:
- Union Avenue between Walnut and Gay Streets
- Market Street between Clinch and Union Avenues
Gay Street between Main Street and Magnolia Avenue will close at 6:15 p.m. for the parade, which steps off at 6:45 p.m. from the Main Street intersection and concludes by 8 p.m. at Magnolia Avenue. Arrive early and avoid Summit Hill Drive prior to and during the parade, as all four lanes of cross traffic will be stopped as the parade traverses the intersection.