This has less than a year to live.

Get the orange cones ready: The Eau Claire City Council has officially approved the long-awaited reconstruction of South Barstow Street.

The council voted 9-1 Tuesday (Feb. 12) to give the go-ahead to the rebuilding a five-block stretch of downtown Eau Claire’s main drag, between Lake Street and Eau Claire Street. The Leader-Telegram reports that this stretch will cost $2 million to rebuild; the overall project, costing an estimated $4 million, includes several additional blocks that will be rebuilt in 2014.

Contractors are expected to bid on the work this spring, while construction could begin as early as May, Eau Claire Public Works Director Brian Amundson said recently.

In addition to replacing the pockmarked street, the project will include aesthetic and functional amenities such as patterned concrete sidewalks and colored brick pavers; new light poles and fixtures; and new greenery, street seating, etc. According to the Leader-Telegram, Councilman Andrew Werthmann cast the only vote against the project. He said the $625,300 share of the cost being passed to property owners on the street via a special assessment was too much, and that the burden should be more evenly shared among all city taxpayers.