As part of the construction of the new Downtown Parking Garage in Railroad Square, the former 'Ted's for Tires' lot will be closed permanently on Tuesday, Aug. 3, as of 7 a.m.

Mayor James Fiorentini said the move marks the beginning of site preparation for the Downtown Parking Garage construction project, which is expected to start in August. A formal groundbreaking will soon be scheduled on the 315-space, 5-story parking structure.

An alternative parking plan will make more than 47 free spaces available to downtown residents, merchants, employees and visitors to a lot off Locust Street between Locke and Walnut streets, Fiorentini said.

The lot, owned by Beacon Development as part of the Cordovan Project, is rarely used, Fiorentini said. Large message boards will direct parkers to the new spaces.

This plan is similar to the one the city used during an environmental cleanup at the site in the fall.

"The long-awaited Downtown Parking Garage project is here. With its construction will come some short-term inconveniences that we have anticipated and planned for," Fiorentini said. "I believe the vast majority of those downtown will be patient over the next year as the long-term solution is constructed."

The site is at the intersection of Granite Street, Moulton Way and Railroad Square. No permanent street closures are expected as construction occurs over the next year, Fiorentini said, occasional traffic disruptions are expected, and all business in the area will remain open.

The parking garage, to be built by Colantonio Construction and operated by the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority, is expected to open for business in late 2011.

"I'd like to thank our neighbors at Beacon Properties and the Cordovan Project for their generosity and continuing to support the Haverhill Renaissance like they do," Fiorentini said. "I look forward to the groundbreaking, and even more so to the ribbon-cutting when this important facility finally opens sometime next year."