The City of Tallahassee will begin construction of the Mitchell Avenue Sidewalk Project later this month. This project will result in new sidewalks, improved stormwater conveyance and the resurfacing of Mitchell Avenue between Ann Street and Betton Road. The sidewalk will be constructed on the west side of Mitchell Avenue to connect with the existing sidewalk along Mitchell Avenue that currently ends at Ann Street, creating a full pedestrian connection from Betton Road to Miccosukee Road.

As you know, there are a significant number of mature live oaks within this corridor. The City worked with an arborist to develop a tree mitigation plan to ensure those trees are protected during construction. While the major trees throughout the corridor will be protected, the project will impact some of the smaller landscaping that has been placed within the City right-of-way. If you are concerned about potential landscaping conflicts, please call me at 850-891-2858.

Construction is scheduled to begin on June 17 and should be completed by December 2019, barring any unanticipated delays. Construction hours will generally be from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Once construction begins, it will be necessary to close the southbound lane through August 1. Northbound traffic will be maintained, and a detour route for southbound traffic using Marion Avenue will be clearly marked. Following this portion of the project, lane closures may occur daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Throughout any lane closure, you will always have access to your property. All detours will be clearly marked to route traffic around the construction zone.

As part of this project, it may be necessary to temporarily disconnect your water or sewer services to make the necessary improvements. Advanced notice of any water or sewer outage will be provided, and every effort will be made to minimize the length of the outage.

To keep your neighborhood informed throughout the construction of the project, we will be forwarding regular project updates to Mike Brezin to post on your HOA’s Facebook page. If you would like to be personally included in these updates, please send me your email address. If you have specific questions about the project, I would be happy to discuss by phone or to meet with you individually at your convenience. To schedule a meeting, please contact me by email at eric.houge@talgov.com or by phone at 850-891-2858.

We will also have City staff available on-site during construction of the project. Project Inspector Terry Nazworth, 850-545-7120, or Senior Inspector Danny Cutchen, 850-694-0622, will be available to answer any construction related questions or concerns you may have throughout the process.

This project represents an important investment in our community and is designed to enhance the quality of life enjoyed by you and your neighbors. We hope you will be pleased with the result and appreciate your understanding and patience during construction.