Ground Broken On 2nd Street Plaza

by Gabe BullardA $3 million renovation project for the area underneath the Clark Memorial Bridge is underway.2nd Street underneath the bridge will be turned into a two-way street, with pedestrian amenities on both sides. Lights will be installed on the underside of the bridge to make the area more inviting.Mayor Jerry Abramson says the renovations are part of the ongoing efforts to make the area around the KFC Yum Center more accessible for drivers and pedestrians before the arena opens in October."We're enhancing the sidewalks and streetscapes on the Main Street side going toward the west with folks coming that park on the west and also on the south. So we'll have ease of access no matter which way you're coming to the arena," he says.Governor Steve Beshear says the area under the bridge needs to be made more attractive."Right now the three blocks of roadway in the shadow of the Clark Memorial Bridge, here, is a dark and uninviting place," he says. "There's not much to bring and keep you here, and once you're here, it's not easy to get around, no matter if you are driving or walking."The project will be funded with a $2.4 million grant from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and $600 thousand from the Louisville city budget.