Downtown Bluefield traffic to be detoured beginning Tuesday for Montgomery Ward demolition

Jun. 22—bluefield — Preparations get underway this coming Tuesday for detouring traffic in downtown Bluefield and getting ready for the demolition of an eight-story building.

Traffic will be detoured in downtown Bluefield so contractors can start getting ready to tear down the old Montgomery Ward Building, Jim Spencer, executive director of the Bluefield Economic Development Authority, said. The demolition and detour were originally set to start after the Fourth of July, but the contractor is ahead of schedule.

"Federal Street from Scott Street to Raleigh Street will be blocked," Spencer said. "You will go right onto Scott Street."

Motorists can then take this detour to Princeton Avenue or to Commerce Street. Commerce Street, which is currently one-way, will become a two-way street so people can go to addresses there and then leave, he said.

A date had not been set Friday for demolishing the old Montgomery Ward, but it should start soon after the detour is established, Spencer said.

The contractor Reclaim started demolishing the vacant buildings filling the downtown's 400 block back in February. The old Montgomery Ward building, which stands over Chicory Square, will be the last one to come down.

Demolishing the buildings is opening up a large amount of open space, so the economic development authority has been asking the public for ideas about using it. Spencer said the city is considering some ideas and an architect is working on some renderings.

Ideas such has creating more downtown green space or an amphitheater have been suggested. For years, Chicory Square has been the venue for festivals and weekly outdoor concerts.

Spencer said people wanting to share ideas for the 400 block's open space can contact him at jspencer@bluewv.org.

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com