Editor’s note: See Tuesday’s Daily for coverage of how downtown merchants say the Main Street construction is affecting business.

In hopes of making downtown Ames more attractive to clientele, the Main Street Streetscape Project is underway.

The project is due to be completed by Nov. 1, said Ames City Councilwoman Sharon Wirth.

“We have gotten off to a wonderful start with the weather,” she said. “This is a very involved and complex project, and we don’t need to be set back by bad weather conditions.”

The Ames City Council accepted a more than $3.1 million bid by contractor Van Hausen & Associates of West Des Moines to head the project.

The Streetscape Project is divided into three sections. Phase One of the project involves tearing up Main Street from mid-block between Kellogg and Douglas Avenues to mid-block between Kellogg and Burnett Avenues.

“We are doing it in three sections, so only a section is closed at one time,” Wirth said.

The intersection of Kellogg Avenue and Main Street will be closed for the duration of the five to six weeks needed to complete Phase One.

The Streetscape Project includes completely removing the street surface and replacing utilities such as the water, sewer and storm water systems, Wirth said.

“The sidewalks will also be taken out and be redone, and the intersections will get some special treatment,” she said.

A Des Moines artist, David Dalquist, will incorporate his designs into the Streetscape Project.

“An artwork design will be incorporated into in-set pavers at the intersection of Main and Kellogg,” Wirth said.

Ultimately, the finishing touches will include the planting of trees and the purchasing of planter boxes and street furniture.

There also will be a six-foot tall fence to protect shoppers from the dangers of construction.

“The fencing will create a channel for people to move around in,” Wirth said.

Aside from the added safety precautions for customers, businesses are going “the extra mile,” said Dave Durlam, president of Ames Main Street District.

“We are offering to do pickups and deliveries for customers, as are other downtown businesses,” said Durlam, owner of Durlam and Durlam Clothing, 226 Main St.

Although construction will cause parts of Main Street to close, business still will be accessible.

“Customers can park behind Main and Fifth [Street] to access the back doors of businesses,” Durlam said.