Salisbury Town Square: City gives green light to contractor for phase one

SALISBURY, Md. – An Easton based contractor was chosen by the Salisbury City Council, Monday night, for phase one of the city’s new Town Square project.

Barkers Landing Excavation is already permitted but is now in the process of getting a “notice to proceed”, in order to start working on the area closest to the Downtown parking garage.

Phase one involves adding pavers to the side of the garage on S. Division Street, where the sidewalk currently is. In the future, the pavers will be extended into the road and replace the pavement in order to create a move “defined” area for the Square. This will allow that part of the road to be easily outlined and blocked off, for any large events held in Downtown Salisbury.

Mayor Jake Day tells 47 ABC that phase one, which should start in June, will not interfere with parking lot one in Downtown. This part of the project will only focus on the patch of grass that is closest to the garage, at the corner of S. Division Street and Circle Ave.

However, the future phases that will develop parking lot one will interfere with parking. Officials tell 47 ABC, any developers that build on what is currently lot one will have to add the same amount of parking spots that they remove.

Mayor Day tells 47 ABC that the cost of phase one is estimated at $290,000, while the total cost for the entire Town Square is estimated between $750,000 and $1 million.

The rendering, created by GMB Architects/Engineers, shows Camden Street as a one-way street away from Route 50. But Mayor Day says the city is not considering changing the direction of traffic on Camden Street.

The city plans to award bids to contractors for future phases of the Town Square, after the 2019 Folk Festival in September.

Additionally, Mayor Day tells 47 ABC that the City’s new bike share program is almost complete and contracts should be signed very soon.