Downtown Augusta Construction Progresses, Parking Opens on Reynolds Street

Broad Street work continues, with new phase to begin after Masters 2026 tournament

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Construction along Broad Street in downtown Augusta has moved into the block between Fifth and Sixth streets, and two parking lots on Reynolds Street near James Brown Boulevard opened last week. Local business owner Michael Weldon says the situation has improved, but challenges persist, including the absence of the James Brown statue. An out-of-town prospective business owner expressed concerns about the number of vacant storefronts and the ongoing construction, but sees long-term potential in the Broad Street corridor.

Why it matters

The downtown construction and parking changes are crucial for the economic vitality of Augusta's business district, which has faced challenges from the ongoing work. The return of the James Brown statue is also a symbolic milestone for the community.

The details

The construction along Broad Street has moved into the block between Fifth and Sixth streets, and two new parking lots have opened on Reynolds Street near James Brown Boulevard. Local business owner Michael Weldon says the situation has improved, with the new parking, but the construction is still problematic for retail. An out-of-town prospective business owner visited downtown Augusta and expressed concerns about the number of vacant storefronts and the ongoing construction, though he sees long-term promise in the Broad Street corridor.

  • Construction along Broad Street has moved into the block between Fifth and Sixth streets.
  • Two parking lots on Reynolds Street near James Brown Boulevard opened last week.
  • The Salvation Army of Augusta is partnering with Tacocat to host a Spring Cleaning donation drive this month.
  • Augusta Engineering is meeting with the Augusta Commission to finalize details of an accelerated construction timeline, with a revised schedule expected to be made public following that meeting.
  • The contractor is targeting the end of this calendar year for full completion of the downtown section, with a focus on early completion of the high-traffic business corridor segment.

The players

Michael Weldon

The owner of Psychotronic Records in downtown Augusta.

Bill

An out-of-town prospective business owner who visited downtown Augusta to evaluate opening a business there.

The Salvation Army of Augusta

A nonprofit organization partnering with Tacocat to host a Spring Cleaning donation drive.

Augusta Engineering

The city department meeting with the Augusta Commission to finalize details of an accelerated construction timeline.

Augusta Commission

The local government body working with Augusta Engineering on the construction timeline.

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What they’re saying

“The construction is still a problem. It's still not good for retail business, but it has gotten a little better. A block over, they've added more parking. So that's great.”

— Michael Weldon, Business Owner (WRDW)

“I'm starting to see a positive future. But it's still going to take a while.”

— Michael Weldon, Business Owner (WRDW)

“Having the James Brown statue back — people keep asking me, where is it? Where is it? I came to look at the James Brown statue. You know, if things quiet down and there's places to park and things look nicer and maybe they put back a few trees, that'll be nice.”

— Michael Weldon, Business Owner (WRDW)

“There's a lot of open space for retail and restaurants down here. It looks like there's been a lot of closures. The construction's thing, but there's a lot of buildings that are kind of in disrepair that are going to take a lot to get up to speed. And there's a lot of space, but I also don't see a lot of people downtown.”

— Bill, Prospective Business Owner (WRDW)

“Broad Street has so much potential the way that it's laid out architecturally.”

— Bill, Prospective Business Owner (WRDW)

What’s next

Augusta Engineering is meeting with the Augusta Commission to finalize details of an accelerated construction timeline, with a revised, comprehensive schedule expected to be made public following that meeting. The contractor is targeting the end of this calendar year for full completion of the downtown section, with a focus on early completion of the high-traffic business corridor segment.

The takeaway

The ongoing construction and parking changes in downtown Augusta are crucial for the economic vitality of the business district, which has faced challenges from the work. While some progress has been made, such as the new parking lots, local business owners continue to express concerns about the impact on retail. However, there is optimism about the long-term potential of the Broad Street corridor once the construction is complete.