Lobby to Belleville Post Office will be closed after hours. Why and for how long?

The lobby to the Belleville Post Office at 120 W. Washington St. will be closed after business hours until further notice due to a new roof being put on the facility.

Keyanna Carraway, a supervisor at that location, said the closure is only temporary.

“They are currently working on the roof,” Carraway said Thursday afternoon. “The company is storing their equipment in the lobby, so the lobby is locked after business hours to make sure the equipment does not get stolen.”

The lobby is typically open after hours, allowing customers to drop off mail and large parcels or purchase stamps from vending machines.

A sign on the front door of the Belleville Post Office on Wednesday read, “Due to issues securing our lobby, the lobby will be closed after business hours until further notice. This is for the safety and security of our customers and staff. We greatly apologize for the inconvenience.”

Assistant Belleville Police Chief Mark Heffernan said his department has received calls of “homeless activity” at or near the post office but did not speculate as to why the lobby is closed.

“I can’t speak to why the post office has closed their lobby. I’m not going to contradict what they have to say about their building,” he said. “We have had calls regarding homeless activity, but whether or not that prompted their closure of the lobby, I can’t speak to that.”

Heffernan said Belleville Police have not received calls for criminal activity at the post office.

“More nuisance, quality of life type calls have been more prevalent there,” he said.

Carraway was unsure how long the closure would last but reiterated the project “shouldn’t be going on long.”

Regular lobby/business hours at the 120 W. Washington St. location typically are:

• Monday-Friday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Sunday: Closed

Carraway said for people who cannot get to the post office before regular business hours end can call 618-233-0390. She said a supervisor typically is there after hours (i.e. until 7 p.m. Monday-Friday).

“If someone answers, they can meet you outside with your mail as long as you have your ID,” Carraway said.

This story was originally published June 30, 2023 at 6:00 AM.