Downtown Riverside will be getting a facelift this spring.

The Riverside City Council approved the plans, specifications and contract created by MMS Consultants at their recent meeting. The project will involve storm drainage work, redoing the raised sidewalks, repairing the alley, and parking on West First Street.

Councilmember Bob Schneider asked how the project will affect downtown businesses, “One of the things that I’m still concerned about and it really hasn’t been clear in my mind, how you’re going to keep businesses that are there open and be able to survive while this is going on. I know we talked about Murphy’s [Bar and Grill] at the front entrance but not the rear entrance. Is that rear entrance acceptable to Jerry to be used as a main entrance? Or is there anyway that we can somehow put up, not a sidewalk but some way to get people in and out of that front door while work is still going on and keep those people safe from falling into a hole or anything like that, as well?”

Scott Pottorff of MMS Consultants mentioned putting up a sign stating what businesses are open during construction. West First Street will be limited to one lane of traffic with a portable stop light to be used. The bid deadline is Wednesday at 2 p.m. Work is anticipated to begin in March and conclude before Trekfest at the end of June.