Main Street in downtown will be closed off to traffic during Strawberry Fest
ALBION – The Village Board has approved closing off part of Main Street to traffic during the Albion Strawberry Festival on June 9 and 10, a decision that needs a final OK by the state Department of Transportation.
Main Street is already closed from Beaver Alley to the canal while the lift bridge is out for an extensive rehab project.
East Bank and East State streets are closed during the festival from Main to Platt streets. But traffic could always head down Main Street and cross the bridge on the lift bridge. Organizers were concerned traffic would head down Main Street and not have anywhere to turn because West Bank is used for some festival activities.
“The main reason is for the safety of residents and patrons of the festival,” said Village Trustee Tim McMurray, who is a member of the Strawberry Festival Committee.
The plan is for Main Street to be closed off to traffic from Park Street to the canal during the festival. McMurray said there won’t be vendors allowed in the middle of the street, but people can cross Main without being worried about traffic.
The village also will have Bank Street and State Street closed to vehicles from Platt to Liberty streets.
In addition, State Street will be closed on the Saturday, June 10, from Platt to Ingersoll streets for a car show.
The Village Board also approved closing Main Street on Thursdays after 3 p.m. from Beaver Alley to Bank Street from June 22 to Sept. 28. The request was made by the Albion Merchants Association which is planning a concert series on Thursday evenings. The state DOT needs to give final approval for closing off that section of the street.
The board also approved a request to close East Bank Street to traffic from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Oct. 28 for a “Spooky Night” celebration with food vendors, Halloween costumes and other activities. Dan Conrad, owner of Toyz n Kandy, is taking the lead in planning that event.