A major street project got underway last week in Charleston, and motorists should be cautious when traveling in the work zone of West Main and Main streets and George Payne Cossar Boulevard.
Lehman-Roberts Company of Memphis is in the initial phases of a $1.47 million construction contract for the overlay of approximately 3 miles of Mississippi Highway 32 within the city limits.
The early work involves the milling of what the Mississippi Department of Transportation says is 63,680 square yards of asphalt.
That part of the project began on West Main, leading to some side access streets being closed off to traffic through the use of orange cones.
On Friday, and again Tuesday, the entirety of Charleston Court Square was closed down so that milling could be performed. There was no parking or public traffic, except for a few log trucks and other big rigs that were allowed through because they would have difficulty navigating side streets.
The work will continue eastward, and even more side streets will be blocked from access to Main. Motorists may face some delays. Watch for flaggers and pay attention to the work zone signs.
The project is expected to require up to 53 working days — or about 10 weeks, weather permitting.
This is the first time in 25 years for such an undertaking in Charleston. In 1994, Lehman-Roberts was the contractor for a $744,773 project that involved milling and a new asphalt overlay.
MDOT Public Information Officer Jace Ponder said Monday that pavement management records show there was a previous overlay of this portion of Highway 32 in 1970. He said original construction of the highway occurred in 1950.
Every couple of decades, Charleston’s Main Street is turned into a work zone. That seems reasonable for a freshly paved, newly striped piece of road that is sure to look nicer, ride smoother and, hopefully, make this busy thoroughfare a bit safer.
