Phase 2 of the downtown Mason revitalization effort will begin the week of August 28.

Phase 1, planning the revitalization project, was completed when Mason City Council accepted the streetscape design in June. Phase 2 includes the installation of a new 12-inch water main along the north lane of West Main Street from Forest Avenue to Mason-Montgomery Road and along the east lane of Reading Road from Main Street to First Avenue.

Supplies will begin to arrive at the former Speedway lot at Reading Road and West Main Street the week before. In conjunction with Mason in Bloom, the gazebo that was on the site has been moved to a more permanent location near the arboretum in Pine Hill Lakes Park. Mason in Bloom will also move the plantings that were around the gazebo.

Construction of Phase 2 is expected to take six to eight weeks. Work will begin in the 300 block of West Main Street between Forest Avenue and Reading Road. Through traffic will be flagged and access to all the businesses will be maintained.

After the Labor Day weekend, westbound traffic on Main Street will be closed between Reading Road and Mason-Montgomery Road. Through traffic will be detoured along Mason-Montgomery and Tylersville Roads.

Access to all of the downtown businesses will be maintained throughout construction. Downtown Mason has more than 20 specialty retail shops and four sit-down restaurants. For more information, visit the City of Mason's web site at www.imaginemason.org.

Photo: Mason Parks & Recreation worker Harold Atkins watches to see that the gazebo being relocated from its downtown Mason location remains level as it is lowered into place at Pine Hill Lakes Park.