UPDATE: Erie Street Closes Tuesday for the Summer

Editor's note: this story has been updated as initially it incorrectly stated Erie Street would be closed to pedestrian traffic during construction.

Erie Street will close downtown starting Tuesday for a little more than two months so its surface can be completely reconstructed as part of the downtown redevelopment work.

The section of road that will close is between South Water and South DePeyster streets. The closure is expected to last until at least Aug. 15.

During this closure, the road will be closed to car traffic and no parking will be permitted on Erie Street, but pedestrian access will be maintained to businesses as well as access to the drive-thru at . Access to the businesses will be maintained.

Kent City Engineer Jim Bowling said pedestrian access will be maintained though the method of access will change throughout the course of construction as different sections of sidewalk are under construction.

"There will always be access," Bowling said. "It's fluid. Access is going to be maintained at all times to the businesses by pedestrians as well as the parking areas. There will also be some access to those too."

The road had closed earlier this spring intermittently and only during the regular work day as crews installed a new water line ahead of the complete surface reconstruction.

Several business owners on Erie Street , which they expect will have a negative effect on business.

The road work is being paid for in part thanks to .