COLUMBIA, S.C. — A 1.7-mile-long widening of North Main Street has finally ended after several delays.
The project was primarily funded with the penny tax and more than $17 million in federal grants, allowing for improved intersections, imprinted stamping for crosswalks, street lighting for nighttime safety, and improved pedestrian routes.
"The roads are 1,000% better," said Angelo's Zesto Manager Mark Sills. "The roads are smooth, it's perfect. It's like a new town."
Sills says he's managed the restaurant since the 90s and has seen North Main evolve through many changes. Now, he believes the newly completed road project will welcome more customers and more business to the area.
"It makes it a lot easier for somebody to come here and say, 'I think I'll start a business here,'" Sills said.
Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickemann says all the work will make driving and walking easier while also encouraging people to come back to the area.
"We lost a pretty good sizeable chunk of our population in this community and in this district, so constantly doing projects like this, attracting people to come here, encouraging people to build up in their neighborhoods, even the city taking empty lots and building houses for sale on them -- we're doing 10 in Belmont and 10 in Booker Washington -- that bookend these streets," Rickenmann said. "So, that's what's going to make a difference. So, it's all the pieces combined, and we're seeing people who are looking to invest in here now, and they are seeing this and it's putting pride back into neighborhoods. This is what these types of projects should do."