Civic Center Drive is going to be a happening place this summer — if you prefer heavy machinery and construction over festivals.

Work is under way to transform the east riverfront strip from Bicentennial Park to W. Broad Street into the Scioto Mile, which includes a promenade with benches and swings, bicycle and pedestrian paths, planters and fountains along Civic Center.

To accommodate the work, Civic Center is down to one lane southbound. Besides inconveniencing drivers, some of the festivals and events traditionally held there are moving elsewhere temporarily, some for at least two years.

The Columbus Arts Festival, scheduled for June 6-8, announced earlier that it was moving to the Discovery District, which encompasses the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus College of Art & Design and Columbus State Community College. Arts festival organizers eventually want to return to the riverfront, said Emily Swartzlander, spokeswoman for the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

“It depends really on what the site looks like on Civic Center Drive once they get it finished and whether we can still fit,” she said. “But for now, we are planning on it being a temporary move.”

Festival Latino, June 20-21, will move across the river to the west bank, along Washington Boulevard and at Genoa Park, said Terri Leist, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department spokeswoman.

“Pride Festival, they are going to relocate some of their vendors and adjust their parade route, but for the most part they are staying close to the same area,” Leist said. The festival and parade is set for June 28.

The launch site for Red White & Boom fireworks July 3 is moving to Veterans Memorial from near COSI Columbus. That will move the prime viewing area for crowds on the east bank farther north of the construction area.

The Jazz & Rib Fest, July 25-27, will remain in Bicentennial Park this year. After that festival ends, construction on the Scioto Mile portion at Bicentennial Park will begin, said Amy Taylor, chief operating officer of the Columbus Downtown Development Corp. The park will receive a face-lift, including a cafe, permanent band shell and a signature fountain.

“Next year, all the events that are traditionally housed on the east side of the riverfront will be moved, with the exception of Red White & Boom,” Taylor said of 2009. “There still will be access for people to go, just not in the construction zone.”

Traffic has been reduced to one lane on Civic Center between Broad and Town streets while American Electric Power moves underground utilities and those from the Town Street bridge in preparation for the Scioto Mile. The Town Street bridge will be demolished next year to make way for a new span. Work also is continuing on the new Main Street Bridge, which is scheduled to open the end of next year or 2010.

In May, work will begin to convert one-way Civic Center, which has been four lanes southbound, to one lane in each direction between Broad and Rich streets. Civic Center will remain open during construction, and work on the two-way version should be finished by summer 2009.

After the dust settles on the Scioto Mile construction in late 2011, the goal is to return the events to the east bank.

“We are building in electric, water, free Wi-Fi, all things that we hope will help the events,” Taylor said.

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