The project addresses flood control in Abingdon city centre.

“This has been a long-awaited project,” said Abingdon Town Manager Mike Cochran.

This stretch of U.S. Highway 11 in the city, east of the Washington County Courthouse, has been a flood zone for more than 50 years, said Councilwoman Donna Ketch, who has long operated a business near the flood site.

“It’s very important to me,” Ketch said. “I’m really pleased to see the city address this issue… This is long overdue.”

Flood mitigation plans include replacing culverts, Cochran said.

Over the years, blockages in the existing culvert have caused the roadway to flood and cars to pass by with surf noise.

“When it’s a problem, it’s a big problem,” Mayor Amanda Pillon said.

For traffic, this meant detouring the city.

“I know there are people who are unhappy with the road closures,” Cochran said during an Abingdon City Council meeting this week.

“There are a lot of moving parts in making a project like this happen,” Cochran said.

In turn, Hurricane Helen “gave us some problems,” Cochran added.

“The detour is not that long. It’s not that it’s a closed road,” Cochran said. “It’s just a detour for a couple of blocks.”

The existing sidewalk was also removed and replaced with a brick sidewalk, Cochran said. “So that will give it a lot more appeal going forward.”

The project along Main Street is expected to be completed around Nov. 18, Cochran said.

“I can’t wait to see the finished product,” said Vice Mayor Dwayne Anderson.

According to the city manager, work is also underway to flood Park Street.

Hopefully the project will be completed soon, Cochran said. “And we will never have this problem again. Cross your fingers.

Pillion added: “Hopefully this couple of weeks will bring an end to the road closure.”