Durham, N.C. — To make West Main Street more pedestrian-, bicycle- and vehicle-friendly, Durham has started an improvement project between downtown and Bright Leaf Square.

The West Village Street Improvements Project consists of moving utility lines underground, upgrading the street and streetscaping on Main Street between Ramseur and Duke Streets. The street will combine standard paving and decorative pavements; sidewalks will be reconstructed, with landscaping incorporated into the design; and new lighting will be installed for vehicles on the street and for pedestrians.

The city’s contractor, Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., will allow traffic through the area during construction, but traffic will have to be detoured occasionally, officials said.

The project is expected to take a year to complete.