The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors could approve up to $20,000 to be added to the $50,000 it authorized for culvert installation at the Columbus Soccer Complex in December during its meeting Monday.
The extra money would fund installation of a culvert for the complex’s yet-to-be-built western entrance along with the previously approved culvert installation on the crossing over Moore’s Creek, according to Kevin Stafford of engineering firm Neel-Schaffer.
District 1 Supervisor Harry Sanders said Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District will purchase all the material and install the culverts before the county begins constructing the roadways. Once that is complete, he said, traffic congestion that had proved problematic since the complex opened last year would be greatly alleviated.
“This is going to help have better egress into and out of the park,” Sanders said. “This is going to give you three ways in and out of the north side of the soccer park whereas right now you’ve only got one.”
In addition to solving the traffic problem, the board previously purchased property at Seventh Avenue North and Third Street North and a parcel of land east of the park’s property to add more parking, which also proved to be a problem when the complex opened.
Stafford said work on the pipes and dirt crossing over Moore’s Creek and at the western entrance should be completed this summer.
In January, Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Director Roger Short announced two major soccer tournaments — the Coaches Cup this November and the Presidents Cup in May 2014 — would be held at the complex.
The board will meet 9 a.m. Monday at the Lowndes County Courthouse.
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.