Motorists driving through downtown Statesboro should expected some delays and detours over the next month as the Downtown Streetscape Project enters a new phase.
      Starting on Monday, project contractor Y-Delta will begin preparations to mill the asphalt on East Main Street from the railroad tracks to Oak Street. The contractor may do some milling west of Oak Street to relieve some of the drainage issues affecting that area.
      Milling means removing the top layer of existing asphalt with a grinding process to lower the surface level of the road and prepare it for a new layer.
      Though drivers may experience some delays while the road is being milled, Assistant City Engineer Brad Deal said the road will remain open to traffic. He is encouraging motorists to use caution when driving through the area.
      Deal said after the road is milled the contractor will begin to install the brick paver crosswalks that cross East Main Street near Railroad Street and at Oak Street. While the crosswalks are being installed, East Main Street will be closed down to traffic.
      "I will be getting more details from the contractor on Monday, but I would estimate that the street closure will last approximately three weeks," Deal said in an email.
      To minimize the disruption to downtown businesses as much as possible, Deal said the sidewalks on both sides of the street will remain open to pedestrian traffic. Though parallel parking will not be available on that section of East Main Street, the city's parking lots on Oak Street and Railroad Street, as well as the parking lot next to Yaughn Countertops will be available for use to access the businesses in the affected area.
      Once the crosswalks are complete, the contractor will begin demolition of the existing sidewalk on the north side of East Main Street in front of the Averitt Center for the Arts - between Siebald and Oak Streets - to prepare for the installation of new curbs and sidewalks. When that section of sidewalk is completed, the section of East Main Street from North Main to Oak Street will be milled and crosswalk will be installed.