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By JOYANNA LOVE | Managing Editor

Long awaited improvements to the Old Town portion of Main Street in Jemison are one step closer to reality following Jemison City Council approval of a construction company to do the work.

During its March 6 meeting, the council awarded the project to CB&A Construction with a cost of $829,615.77.  City Clerk Vicki Potts said a preconstruction meeting will be held in the next two weeks which will help determine a timeline for the project.

The project will replace sidewalks and hand railings along Main Street from Church Street to Padgett Lane as well as add a curbed island, trees, marked parking spots and historic-styled lighting. The pavilion in the adjacent park will also be replaced.

Funding for the project had initially been secured in January 2021 from the Alabama Department of Transportation through a federal Transportation Alternatives Program grant for $600,000, including the 20% required local match.

However, Potts said the cost of the project came in higher than initially estimated, so the city applied for an increase in funding. An increase of $283, 246.50 was approved with an additional $70, 811.63 of local funding being required.