Dateline: September 15, 2005

Street paving project moving forward

By Roger  Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The 2005 Clarendon street paving project is on track, and the contractor anticipates being able to finish before cold weather sets in.

That’s the word from Mayor Pro-tem Mark White following a report given to the city last Friday.

White said B&B Solvent project superintendent Brent Hall told the city his workers would begin pouring curb and gutter this week.

“I think it’s coming together; and once we start seeing curb and gutter, it will go a lot faster,” White said.

According to White, Hall also expressed concerns that the city could not stay ahead of his crew in doing the rough cuts on the streets and said his crew could do the same work faster and with more expertise than the city could. City officials agreed and told Hall to continue doing the rough cuts for the city.

“We’ve spent a little over $2,000 so far for them to cut the streets,” White said. “I think that’s money well spent.”

City crews will continue to haul dirt out of the way once the contractor has moved it.

White said the contractor anticipates stringing curbs this Wednesday and will likely start pouring concrete Thursday. The work would start on Sixth Street, laying 1,000 feet of curb and gutter per day. Seventh and Eighth streets would follow.

“They want the city to come in and do the backfill behind the curb, and then they will start bringing in base material,” White said.

Work must be completed by some time in November otherwise it will be too cold and will force the project to either use more expensive cold temperature material or wait for warmer weather next spring.

White said he hasn’t heard much comment from the public on the project – pro or con. He has heard second hand of people wondering why the streets were cut so low, but he says the street level will raise back up after the base is brought it.

“I’m anxious to see it done and see a good rain on it,” White said. “The curb and gutter is going to make such a difference in the appearance of people’s homes. It’s just going to look totally different.”