Motorists traveling Business Route 17 at the southern end of Gloucester Court House may have noticed some colorful changes over recent weeks.

The first phase of the Main Street Gateway project is nearly completed, and according to Jenny Crittenden, executive director of Gloucester’s Main Street Preservation Trust, it hasn’t cost taxpayers a dime.

Crittenden said the MSPT has had the enhancement project in its vision for quite a while and began the design process in 2014. This phase of the project, which just exceeds $100,000, is well worth the money the MSPT has put into it, Crittenden said. “It’s a great use of funds,” she said. “We are welcoming people to Main Street in a physical environment just like the businesses here welcome people into their stores in such a warm way.”

“It’s a lot of work for that amount of money,” added James Dudley, chair of the MSPT board of directors. “Our mission is to enhance the viabili...