Community Corner

Thank-You, Rochester: All 5 Lanes of Main Street Now Open

Just in time for Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, the Main Street Makeover reaches a milestone.

Seven months after the first construction barrel was brought into downtown Rochester in April, all five lanes of Main Street opened to traffic late Wednesday — just in time for Thanksgiving.  

"Today's a really, really special day because we're getting our five lanes back," said Rochester City Manager Jaymes Vettraino during a short "barrel-moving" ceremony Wednesday afternoon downtown. 

City leaders, including Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson and councilmembers Jeff Cuthbertson, Cathy Daldin, Steve Sage and Kim Russell, gathered at the corner of Fourth and Main streets to remove the last of the barrels from the road. Passersby cheered and waved; Vettraino's own children even had fun kicking the barrels after they were moved onto the sidewalk. 

Find out what's happening in Rochester-Rochester Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Main Street Makeover involved the removal and rebuilding of the road from the Paint Creek Bridge north of University Drive to the Clinton River Bridge south of downtown. The project was budgeted at about $5.6 million. 

The reopening of Main Street coincides with the 40th Anniversary celebration of Lagniappe on Monday. This event is Rochester’s official kick-off for the seventh annual Big, Bright Light Show.

Find out what's happening in Rochester-Rochester Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The new streetscape is incredible and the light show will provide the perfect backdrop for people to enjoy the downtown experience," said DDA Executive Director Kristi Trevarrow.

For more on the Main Street Makeover, see our special section on Rochester Patch.


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