Downtown Hood River will be a vastly improved place once the Urban Renewal improvements between Third and Sixth streets are complete in May, with new sidewalks and curbs, safer street surfaces, and improved lighting overhead and utilities underground.

Meanwhile, downtown remains a vibrant place. The street has been torn up but businesses are open and ready to serve. The merchants are doing their best to weather the challenges of construction during the period known as the “off season,” and deserve the continued support of the community.

Kerr Construction has worked hard to keep the sidewalks not only accessible but clean. Crossing Third and Oak, on foot or by vehicle, is (for the time being) much easier, and free parking is available on Cascade between Fourth and Fifth. That’s one result of concerted efforts by the city, Kerr, and Downtown Business Association to limit the construction project’s impacts on people’s ability to come downtown and get around.

Hundreds of residents have attended the first two “Girls Night Out” events downtown. People had few problems getting around to the 25 businesses open for the event.

The city is attempting to address the safety concerns that come with changes in traffic flow.

Please note that the intersection of Fifth and Cascade was made a four-way stop this week.

Monday’s natural gas leak (story, A1) was well-handled by NW Natural, city fire and police departments, and the contractor, Kerr Construction. It’s one of those goes-with-the-territory events.

Don’t wait “for the dust to settle” to come downtown. There’s not that much dust to begin with.