Editorial: Major construction in downtown Belleville a big deal

The construction of the two-story, new multi-million-dollar public library in downtown Belleville is a big deal. It’s expected to take about two years to complete and we are going to have to put up with the inconveniences to make it happen.
First, you can forget Fourth Street. It is closed from Main Street to the alley for two years and the rest of Fourth Street is part of the library building site.
If you want to get to the library, you have to take the alley next to Captain Nemo’s on Third Street and go almost to the end. Or, you could park on Charles Street and walk around the corner on the Fourth Street sidewalk, which will still be open.
The Belleville First United Methodist Church has offered parking spaces for the library staff to park during construction, which was a very neighborly gesture.
The thought of closing Main Street each Monday for the annual car show doesn’t compute, since construction vehicles will be coming into town for the project.
Also, the new pedestrian sign in the middle of Main Street near Fourth is in danger. Trucks will have to take a wide turn to get into Fourth Street.
And, the museum’s plan for the June 9 Rosie the Riveter fund raiser is being accommodated by the builders.
We’ll get through this all and at the end will be a beautiful new library for the tri-community. We can do it.