By Diana McFarland

Managing editor

Motorists coming to downtown Smithfield will find that the 200 block of Main Street will be closed off beginning this week as Columbia Gas continues its work replacing gas lines.

The intersection at the Smithfield Post office, at Main and Institute streets, will be closed, but will re-open within a week to allow for traffic to and from the 300 block. 

Once opened, traffic will be diverted to the 300 block on Main Street, said Rick Bodson with Smithfield 2020. {mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

The 300 block will continue to be dead-ended for a week, but traffic can exit Main Street through the Bank of America parking lot. 

The 300 block is scheduled to be repaved within a week, according to Smithfield 2020. 

Columbia Gas plans to wrap up the project by March 31, depending on weather. 

Meanwhile, the Smithfield Town Council has not yet decided what sort of material it plans to repave Main Street with, said Town Manager Peter Stephenson. 

Once a material is selected, paving will be after July 1, he said.  {/mprestriction}