RICHMOND, Va. -- Work has started to honor Richmond civil rights leader Maggie Walker with a statue.
Crews cut down the historic oak tree that stood at Broad and Adams streets Saturday morning at the site of the intended urban plaza where the statue will stand.
Many Richmonders had campaigned to save the tree.
Bill Johnson, who filed the original paperwork for the Maggie Walker statue 18 years ago, said it is time for this change.
"It's a commemoration that needs to be, it deserves to be part of Richmond's history,” Johnson said. “And I think we've gone a long way. There's had to be some sacrifices, but at the same time, we got it done."
Crews will be closing lanes of Brook Road, Adams Street and Broad Street over the next few days as construction continues.
Lane closures around the triangle park, also bordered by Adams Street, started at 7 a.m. and continue through Tuesday.
The closures are also in effect Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The following areas will be impacted:
• Brook Road between Broad Street and Adams Street will be closed
• Northbound lane of Adams Street from Broad Street to Brook Road will be closed
• Westbound parking lane on Broad Street between Brook Road and Adams Street will be closed
Parking restrictions will be in place in the following areas:
• North side of Broad from Adams to Brook
• Brook from Adams to Broad
• East side of Adams (mid-block) from Brook to Marshall
