JACKSON STREET WORK MAY NOT BE DONE BY FESTIVAL

JACKSON -- Acting City Engineer Rich Bowen said Monday he doubts the contractor on West Main Street can finish the project before the start of Homecomers.

"I don't think they have enough time left to cut out the center section of pavement and replace it, then pave the westbound lane by the opening of Homecomers," Bowen said. "We've already lost two weeks worth of work, and we've only got two weeks left before Homecomers."

Bowen said he will discuss the matter this week with the Jackson Board of Aldermen.

When a problem was discovered, City Administrator Carl Talley said if the street was not completed by Homecomers the city would cover the torn-up westbound lane with gravel and open it to traffic. Bowen said that is an option if the street isn't finished by the start Aug. 11.

The project bogged this month when the city refused to accept concrete pavement in the eastbound lane because it did not meet engineering specifications. In some places the pavement has noticeable bumps caused by paving problems that occurred as the cement was being poured.

After the defect was discovered, the contractor, SIS Inc. of Creal Springs, Ill., met with the Board of Aldermen and agreed to cut out the center portion of the bad pavement and replace it. In addition, the city told the contractor it must also tear out a 300-foot section of the entire pavement from Oklahoma Street westward, and replace it with concrete because it is in bad condition.

"After the meeting with the contractor, the council and I thought we had a game plan, a plan of action," said Bowen. "Now we're two weeks closer to Homecomers and nothing significant has been done."

Bowen said the last significant work on the project was two weeks ago when a sidewalk on the south side of the courthouse was poured. He said the contractor worked every day last week, but the only work completed was setting up concrete forms and iron to prepare for paving one block between Court and Missouri.

"They told me last week they were going to start pouring on Thursday; then they put it off until Friday, and then until Monday. Late Friday afternoon they called and told me they would not pour Monday, but would start again on Tuesday," Bowen said. "The paving at the intersection of Main and High Street was supposed to have been completed on Friday. Obviously, that has not been done."

City officials said the block of Main between South High and Court, must be completed before Aug. 11 because it is used for set-up of booths, stands and carnival rides during Homecomers. Having the rest of the street open would help move traffic during Homecomers, they said.

Some councilmen are have expressed concern that businesses along West Main from Court to Hubble Creek are being hurt because of difficulty shoppers have getting in and out of the businesses.