Major Makeover Plan for Busy Downtown Binghamton Street

A two-year reconstruction project is in the works for a heavily-traveled street in Binghamton.

Downtown drivers can expect some detours on Henry Street later this year.

The city is moving forward with plans to rebuild most of the street over the next couple of construction seasons.

Project manager Scott Faulkner of McFarland Johnson outlined elements of the job for members of the Binghamton traffic board.

Several blocks of the eastern portion of Henry Street are to be reconstructed. Faulkner said the project will run from Chenango Street to Brandywine Avenue.

Plans call for a single ten-foot-wide lane in either direction. Turning lanes will be removed.

Faulkner said five-foot-wide bicycle lanes will be added for both directions of Henry Street.

Because of the narrowing of the roadway between Chenango and Carroll streets, he said there will be "a lot more space for sidewalks and green space."

The project will include the replacement of traffic signals at all intersections except the Brandywine.

Faulkner said the redesign will include bulb-outs at intersections so pedestrian crosswalks will be much shorter than the current crosswalks.

Some more on-street parking spaces are to be added on the eastern end of Henry Street. The project also calls for the installation of decorative lighting.

Mayor Jared Kraham told WNBF News the project will address persistent flooding issues that have occurred in the area of Henry and Chapman streets near Mirabito Stadium.

The mayor said the work will provide the infrastructure "for a great Stadium District." He said the city is receiving $5 million in federal funding to pay for some of the cost of the project.

The city is expected to seek bids for the planned work this spring. Construction work likely would start this summer and be completed next year.

Plans call for a single travel lane to be maintained while the project is underway. Westbound traffic would be permitted while eastbound traffic would be detoured from Henry Street.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.