Downtown roadwork that has blocked a major artery of traffic on Washington Street is scheduled to be completed Thursday.

The 1200 block of Washington Street has been closed for a week and a half while the water main department has been working under the road on a water main that will facilitate apartments being built on the block.

“We’re making a 4-inch tap on a 16-inch water main,” Reginald Holmes, a foreman for water mains department, said.

Victor Parson, another foreman for water mains department, said it was a big job that the team is working on wrapping up. Parson, Homes and laborer David Kelly were raking sand over the road Wednesday morning as they were preparing to turn the project over to the street department to repair the road.

“The street department will re-brick it,” Parsons said.

The tap was made on the main to supply water for a fire sprinkler system that will be routed throughout the apartment building. The sprinkler system will activate in case of a fire.

Holmes said the crew installed two 4-inch valves, one of which is behind the curb and one in the road. Parsons said having one behind the curb would allow plumbers to add to the line for the sprinkler system without having to go out to the road.

“The one behind the curb will be more convenient for the customer and property owner,” Parson said.

He said the construction of the apartments was in the beginning stages. Holmes thought about six to eight apartments were being constructed above a commercial unit on the east side of the street.

“They’ve still got a lot to do in the inside, but we did our part,” Holmes said. “It’s going to be a long process on their side, still a lot of work to do.”

Holmes said the water mains department was focused on getting the road reopened. He said the work began last Monday, March 14, and he thought the road would be open by the end of the day Wednesday.

“What we’re trying to do now is open the road back up for the merchants,” Holmes said. “So it won’t affect their business anymore.”