The work temporarily blocking portions of Savannah Avenue is the early stages of a $1.85 million city of Statesboro project to resurface the street, install new sidewalks and crosswalks, build islands to slow traffic, line the sewer and replace water mains. As of noon Wednesday, a portion of the avenue was closed in the commercial area between East Main Street downtown and Zetterower Avenue. A day later, a "closed to through traffic" sign with a detour appeared on the more residential end of Savannah Avenue at Gentilly Road.