CRESTVIEW, Fla., Oct. 1, 2020—The northern-most block of Main Street will be closed from 10:30 a.m. until late afternoon Oct. 5 while contractors install an entry arch over the road.

The arch is part of a Community Redevelopment Agency project that will help better delineate and identify the county seat’s historic downtown area and welcome visitors to the dining and shopping district, according to a release by the City of Crestview.

Creating a more formal “gateway” entrance to the city’s heart was one of the suggestions made several years ago by a citizens and business owners group that informally met from time to time at Casbah Coffee Company and brainstormed downtown improvement ideas to take to city leaders. 

The CRA embraced the idea and is funding construction of the arch.

While Main Street is closed from Cedar Avenue to U.S. 90 Monday, motorists heading north can reach U.S. 90 by turning right onto Cedar Avenue on the north side of the courthouse.

Traffic heading into downtown Crestview from U.S. 90 may turn onto Wilson Street, then turn left on Cedar and then right onto Main Street.

As part of the overall gateway project, another entrance sign, which includes a planter, is under construction in Garden Park at the south end of Main Street. 

That project does not require road closures.

Brian Hughes, public information officer, City of Crestview