Plans for Gainesville’s new parking deck are pushing up and over the old one.

Optum Construction began the demolition of the Georgia Mountains Center parking deck this week, the first visible steps toward the city’s planned four-level downtown parking deck.

Now that it is under way, the $6.85 million project should be complete in July. In the meantime, motorists driving and parking downtown will have to endure a few inconveniences.

Until the new deck is complete only one lane of traffic will be open on Main Street from Spring Street to Broad Street.

Main Street is open to one-way traffic leaving the square from Spring Street to Broad Street. For drivers going to the downtown square, city officials recommend using Spring Street via West Academy Street.

Motorists will have to park in other downtown areas during the new deck’s six months of construction.

Alternate parking areas are available on Main Street and Maple Street at the corner of Jesse Jewell. The
Hall County parking deck is also available from Spring Street.

Designed by architect Steve Hill of Gainesville, the new, $6.85 million parking deck will extend over the entrance to the Mountains Center and will include brick accents fashioned in a pattern similar to that on the downtown square sidewalks.

The four-level deck will accommodate 419 vehicles when complete, and is designed to allow growth to a six-level deck.

Questions or comments may be addressed to Jarrett Nash, the city’s project manager, at 770-538-4978.