The Champaign City Council unanimously approved a nearly $700,000 project Tuesday night to spruce up Sixth Street between Green and Healey streets.

This will be the final phase of the city’s Campustown Infrastructure Reconstruction and Streetscape Project in the immediate area, Director of Public Works Dennis Schmidt said.

The project intends to improve the appearance of the area by increasing sidewalk space and adding amenities, such as benches and fencing.

The Sixth Street phase of the project will be much like the first phase, Schmidt said, when the city removed one lane of traffic from Green Street to add colored concrete and other features and widen the sidewalk along Green Street.

“Basically what we’re going to end up doing is the same texture, the same appearance that you see throughout Green Street from Fourth Street to Wright Street, and Sixth Street south as well,” Schmidt said.

The project will begin May 14 and be completed by Aug. 14, according to City Manager Steve Carter’s report to the city council.

“The only benefit a streetscape project gives to any community is it improves the appearance,” Schmidt said. “It just makes it more pedestrian friendly, and just a nicer environment to be in.”

Although this is the final phase of the project in this particular area, Schmidt said there are still more improvements to come.

“We’ve got more projects budgeted in future years out that will extend the Streetscape Project further west on Green Street,” Schmidt said.

Champaign City Council

The next council meeting will be at the Champaign City Council Chambers, 102 N. Neil St., on Tuesday, April 24. Visit ci.champaign.il.us/government/index.php for more information.