A construction project to improve a key entrance to downtown Binghamton has started.

Crews started work on the State Street gateway project on Monday. City officials had expected groundbreaking for the job to occur in the summer of 2017.

When design concepts for the project were released two years ago, the improvements on State Street between Hawley and Susquehanna streets were expected to cost $600,000.

Government vehicles cannot park on State Street near City Hall while construction is underway. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Government vehicles cannot park on State Street near City Hall while construction is underway. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Included in the planned work are new bike lanes, pedestrian crossings and landscaping.

A related project to replace traffic signals at the intersection of State and Hawley will cost about $340,000.

A closed pedestrian walkway linking the governmental plaza with the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena was removed in August 2017 at a cost of $134,000.

Barrett Paving Materials of Binghamton will do the improvement work for the State Street gateway. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
Barrett Paving Materials of Binghamton will do the improvement work for the State Street gateway. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)
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Drivers should prepare for delays in the work zone with lanes shifts and lane closures during the construction project over the next few months.

WATCH this "flyover" of the gateway project released by the city in early 2017.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com

For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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