Construction on the "Recharge Fresno Project" is moving onto the next phase

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Traffic on McKinley Avenue is moving along just fine, but by late next week drivers will be facing detours and lane closures for the next two months.

"So during that time the McKinley corridor, between Fresno Street and Blackstone, will be closed to through traffic. Traffic will be permitted to proceed through the construction zone to businesses which will be open during construction," said Michael Carbajal, City of Fresno.

The city must tear up the Central Fresno road in order to begin the next phase of the Recharge Fresno Project. This will give the city sustainable water through the use of an available surface water supply that will be treated at the city's southeast surface water treatment facility.

Construction on the $600-million project began in February on the east side of town and 48 inch diameter wielded steel pipelines will connect the project to the next phase.

"That pipeline will continue into the intersection and then head west down to Blackstone where it will connect the existing pipeline that has already been tunneled underneath with Blackstone the BNSF Railroad," said Carbajal.

Businesses along McKinley are worried about confusion for their customers.

Stan Lawson runs the Loft Thrift Store with his wife; he said they rely on business from customers who happen to be driving by.

"I've had several people come in and just say, "oh, we heard McKinley is going to be all tore up.' So they kind of stayed away, but they drove by and saw that it was open and could get to."

The city said a detour will be in place for through traffic on Olive and Clinton Avenues, but there will still be access to businesses on McKinley between Blackstone and Fresno Street during construction.

"We just want to make sure all our customers know there will be access to the store continuously through the whole thing," said Lawson.

Again McKinley Avenue is open and construction begins late next week.

Construction on McKinley will be complete in late September and the entire project will be finished in November.