Gettysburg Daily

Construction Updates: Steinwehr Avenue and Old VC Parking Lot

The lamp-post, tree, and bench are part of the Steinwehr Avenue streetscape project. The Alexander Dobbin House is in the background. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

The construction activity taking place in Gettysburg this summer never seems quite finished. We’ll take a walk around two areas recently making headlines and show you the progress so far.

We begin here, at the closed off steps linking the Cyclorama Parking lot … This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

… which is behind us, and was recently paved … This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

… and the old Visitors Center parking lot coming up ahead of us. This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

We’re now looking back towards the Cyclorama Building and parking lot. This view was facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

We last reported that it was likely that this parking lot would be removed after the Cyclorama lot was repaved. This view was facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

At present, this lot is still closed off to visitors. This view was facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

So, why are we here again, you ask? This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

This parking lot connects to Steinwehr Avenue, which is in the background of this view. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

The Steinwehr Avenue Business Improvement District, along with Main Street Gettysburg and the National Park Service, have elected to re-open the lot “later this year” and will keep it open through the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. They have cited a need for extra parking to increase visitation to Steinwehr Avenue, though we believe that it will help with visitors to the Soldiers National Cemetery as well. This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

We previously reported on the construction underway along Steinwehr Avenue in April and June. The work we covered in this posts is now largely complete. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

Notice the new lamppost in front of Tommy’s Pizza at the corner of South Washington and Steinwehr Avenue. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

A closer look at the new lampposts that line the street. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

Wednesday it was announced that $3.25 million was awarded to the Steinwehr Avenue streetscape project out of federal grant money for “transportation-related improvements.” This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

The money will be used for the part of Steinwehr Avenue in the distance that stretches from Tommy’s Pizza out to Long Lane. The duration of that portion of the project and when it will begin is unclear at this time. This view was taken facing southwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

Some of our readers have asked us, “Why is all this money going to Steinwehr Avenue?” The short and simple answer is businesses. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

Since the Visitors Center was removed, businesses in the area have vocalized their worry about visitation to Steinwehr Avenue. Baltimore Street intersects with Steinwehr Avenue in the background. This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

For visitors who will come to Steinwehr Avenue as visitation increases in anticipation of the 150th anniversary, benches like these will be appreciated … This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

… and perhaps make these traffic-calming changes a necessity. This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

The Rosensteel Museum and the National Park Service Electric Map Visitors Center used to stand on this spot. Steinwehr Avenue is barely visible in the tree-line in the center background. This view was taken facing west at approximately 4:30 PM on Tuesday, August 23, 2011.