It likely will cause a few headaches for merchants and residents living along Main Street in Cibolo’s “old downtown,” but the reconstruction of the two-lane road is being designed to provide more space and amenities to motorists, pedestrians, homeowners and businesses.

City Council Sept. 11 reviewed Klein Engineering’s current profile and future schematic for Main Street between Farm Roads 78 and 1103. City officials are reviewing possibilities for a 36-foot-wide street that would have a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the eastern side.

But administrators will ask affected homeowners to see how much of their front yards they would be willing to give up. Any more extra right-of-way land could give the project the room for sidewalks possibly on both sides in the residential area. There is also potential for a center-turn lane or even bicycle lanes.

Officials are mulling elements such as trees and tree wells, and classic lampposts lining the road along with decorative crosswalks and even a different pavement design. The city will bring in a lighting engineering to address the lamp matter.

Guadalupe Valley Electric Cooperative is working with the city to resolve utility placement. Officials must also decide how to phase the reconstruction project, which could take nine to 12 months.

The project will reduce street elevation by one and a half to two feet, and eliminate any bar ditches. To the dismay of council members, Crowell said the new road must match the existing grade of the railroad crossing, meaning any bumps motorists encounter there are likely to stay.

Council expects to award a construction bid on the $1.8 million project, which is being funded by the voter-approved May 2007 bond issue. Officials estimate starting the project by late January.