(KAIR)--Despite rainy weather impacting the first targeted completion date, the City of Atchison says the renovation of the streets where the downtown mall once stood, is moving forward.

According to a release from City of Atchison Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont, “work Work on the 500-600 Commercial Street Project continues to make,” what he calls, “big strides” due to the weather “in recent weeks being much more conducive to concrete and asphalt work.”

In the release, Pregont says it’s expected by the City that the project will “reach substantial completion by the middle of July,” although Pregont notes that always depends on weather.

As the work progresses, Pregont says that “in the weeks ahead brick pavers will be placed in the bulb outs, a final 2" asphalt surface will be applied, pavement markings will go down, and site furnishings, such as benches and water fountains, will be installed.” Pregont notes that “trees will not be planted until the fall.”

The project, which began in February, will make the former mall area resemble other areas of Commercial Street, and bring the location closer to how it was utilized, meaning vehicle traffic, prior to the mall’s construction.

According to the City, the 500 to 600 block-stretch of Commercial Street was converted into the pedestrian mall after two flash-floods in 1958 devastated the downtown area. The Atchison City Commission voted last year to move forward with demolition of the mall, with 75-percent of the demolition project’s cost being funded through a Kansas Department of Transportation grant. That leaves the City responsible for the remaining 25-percent.