TAMPA, Fla. — Ybor City's historic 7th Avenue is going under construction beginning Monday to help calm driving and increase foot traffic.
A multi-phase project to reconstruct the paved 7th Avenue into a brick road will take up to six weeks, according to city officials. It's being funded by the Ybor Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), which is captured through new tax revenue and invested back into the community.
The first phase will be between North 15th and 17th Streets and is expected to take two weeks. The entire project will run for 14 blocks along 7th Avenue from Nick Nuccio Parkway to 26th Street.
Street parking in the worked portions of 7th Avenue will be closed during construction, but sidewalks will still be available, according to a news release. Business signage will also be posted at each corner to help visitors find their way around.
"I think it's going to enhance the experience of coming to Ybor City. It's definitely traffic-calming, you can't speed down a brick road or your car will self-destruct," downtown business owner Richard McIntyre previously told 10 Tampa Bay. "But most importantly, we're in a historic district and the paved road just doesn't look the same when you have historic buildings."
City officials encourage locals and visitors to use the TECO Line Streetcar to get through Ybor as an alternative to visit during construction. The project is designed to promote these alternative modes of transportation, boost local businesses and contribute to the economic growth of Ybor.
The authentic bricks will further enhance the authenticity of the historic district and connect residents and visitors with the city's past, officials said.