LAUREL, Miss. (Aug. 18, 2016) – Led by Mayor Johnny Magee and the City Council, the City of Laurel is set to begin a $10 million program to re-pave many of the City’s streets.
After listening to the citizens, the Mayor and council members have taken courageous steps to make improvements to the streets, including passing a $10 million bond issue that will fund the project to overlay portions of streets and make sidewalk and ramp improvements throughout the City.
The project will be completed in phases. Work for Contract I is set to begin on Monday (Aug. 22), and tentatively be completed in December 2016. Engineering firm Neel-Schaffer designed the improvements and is managing the project. Dunn Roadbuilders of Laurel was awarded Contract I, which will include about $2.5 million in improvements.
The work scheduled for Contract I generally consists of the milling and overlay or leveling and overlay of multiple streets throughout the City. The project includes approximately 10,800 tons of asphalt and 91,000 square yards of milling.
All or a portion of the following streets are set for work under Contract 1: South 19th Avenue, Jefferson Street, 11th Avenue, Queen Street, South 6th Avenue, West Jefferson Street, Pine Street, 1st Street, Rogers Street, Mason Street, 10th Avenue, Green Street, Front Street, East 16th Street, Haddon Street, 10thStreet, Northgate Drive, West 20th Street, 27th Street, 28th Street, 29th Street, 2nd Avenue, 1st Avenue, Buchanan Street, and East 19th Street.
The sidewalk improvements will be made at selected intersections, making sidewalks and ramps more accessible for people with disabilities, meeting standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The improvements will include reconstruction and the addition of warning pads.
The design of Contract II is being finalized. It will include improvements to portions of Palmer Avenue, Maple Street, 15th Avenue, Parker Driver, and Front Street. Contract II work is expected to begin in the fall of 2016. Other projects that will be constructed with the bond issue funds and are currently in the design phase will include work on 5th Avenue, 13th Avenue, and West 10th Street.