J Drew Gatlin, EIF Staff Engineer for the City of Morgantown, looks at some of the records books from the early 1920s that will go back in the vaults when renovated. 
Commercials Builders Brian Schrout, right, and Kyle Klemp stand on the steps leading to the vaults at City Hall.
Work will begin this week on the vaulted sidewalks outside Morgantown’s City Hall.
The city contracted with Commercial Builders Inc., which bid $224,000 for the repairs.
The job is expected to take about three to four months to complete, during which time the building will be accessible by the double doors on the front of the building.
To allow for construction, the west Spruce Street travel lane will be closed from Wall to Fayette streets. Parking along Fayette Street will also be restricted.
The repairs will take place in two phases.
During the first phase of construction, the front doors of City Hall and the finance department entrance will be accessible from the south side of the building.
During the second phase of construction, the front doors of City Hall will be accessible from the north side of the building. The entrance to the finance department will be temporarily blocked.
As previously reported by The Dominion Post, City Manager Paul Brake said the work will include a new waterproof vault ceiling and, ultimately, a new sidewalk that will align with the entrance to city hall.
Vaults were often used as storage or mechanical rooms and extend out under the sidewalks in front of a number of older buildings downtown.
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