Residents who live along Washington Avenue between Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Molly Barr Road will experience lane closures next month.

The Board of Aldermen approved a request by Innovative Construction Management (ICM) on behalf of the Oxford School District to close the sidewalk and have intermittent lane closures March 7 through 15.

ICM made the request to facilitate demolition and construction of a new sidewalk along Washington Avenue adjacent to the new Central Elementary School site.

“ICM has stated that the narrow lanes and median islands will make it impossible to keep both lanes of traffic open at all times during this work,” the request read.

The request is for intermittent closure of the eastbound lane, with flagmen present to direct traffic in both directions using the westbound lane. Duration of the lane closure will vary throughout the day.

The existing sidewalk will be removed, and a temporary sidewalk will be installed until the new permanent sidewalk to the new school entrance is completed.

Work is scheduled to be completed during that time frame, which is when Oxford schools are out for spring break, to minimize impact to Oxford Intermediate School and the Boys & Girls Club.

The Board also approved the request to extend the period from March 14 to March 15, with extended work hours, if the extra day of work is needed.

Residents in the impacted area will be notified ahead of the closure, and the City will work with ICM to come up with alternate work days if weather affects the approved dates.