Pierce Street Back Open in Birmingham

The crater that was Pierce Street in downtown Birmingham is now covered in smooth concrete and fresh paint, and open for traffic. 

The Pierce street reconstruction between Maple Road and Merrill Street started in March, and included removal of water mains and sidewalk replacement. The area also will get new street lights, and crews will begin installing parking meters, signs and brick pavers along the tree wells this week, according to city officials. 

The next phase of the project, which involved tearing up Merrill between Pierce and Old Woodward Avenue, will take about another three weeks. By Saturday, weather permitting, crews should have all the concrete for Merrill poured. The alleys will be next, an update from City Engineer Paul O'Meara stated.

"It is coming together nicely," said City Manager Bob Bruner.

"Yes! It's nearly there," wrote Michael Garcia on the Birmingham Patch Facebook Page.

Others, including local business owners, didn't hold back their excitement.

"I think it's going to make a big difference for people coming downtown," said Debbie Vail, owner of Adventures in Toys. "People been really looking forward to it."

O'Meara previously told Birmingham Patch that that area of Pierce was first paved in 1915, followed by Merrill Street in 1929.

Have you been down the new and improved Pierce Street yet? How did the construction impact you? Tell us in the comments.