STARKVILLE — For nearly 10 months, detour and closure signs have been a common sight in downtown Starkville.
More road work is coming, but the city is pivoting to above-ground work.
That will be headlined by a Main Street redesign, but Mayor Lynn Spruill told The Dispatch that the city is “still a ways away” from bidding out the project.
In May, Starkville Utilities began replacing undersized sewer lines with 12-inch pipes under portions of East Main, Lampkin, Washington and Jackson streets. The bigger pipes increase service to the downtown area. The project cost about $2.5 million, and was funded through a portion of the city’s allotment of American Rescue Plan Act funds and state match.
After the pipes were replaced, the streets were “patched” temporarily.
City Engineer Cody Burnett told The Dispatch that while the gravel and dust used in the patching might be a bit frustrating to drivers, the sewer lines had to be tested before a full overlay could be installed.
“If the test fails, you have to dig (the pipes) back up,” Burnett said. “You don’t want to dig up new asphalt.”
Burnett said that the testing is complete and pavement is on the way. The section of Washington Street between Main and Lampkin was being paved Thursday, he said, and the stretch of Lampkin from the Washington intersection east to Fellowship Street is scheduled to be paved soon.
As far as the Main Street redesign, Burnett said the engineering phase is about 70 to 80% completed, with a goal of finalizing plans in the next couple of months and advertising for construction bids.
The project seeks to make downtown more pedestrian-friendly by expanding sidewalks, adding overhead street lighting and additional landscaping, among other improvements. The proposed first phase is from City Hall to Jackson Street, including the Montgomery intersection. The second phase would make improvements from Jackson to Montgomery.
The estimated price is about $12 million, but the project’s scope can be adjusted based on available funding.
At the moment, the city has about $6.3 million on hand for the improvements. The amount includes $1 million from the Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority, $3.25 million from the state legislature, a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development worth $2 million and another $100,000 from the Greater Starkville Development Partnership.
Spruill is hopeful for another legislative appropriation this session.
“I am told we have a good chance of additional funding from the state,” she said in a text message.
She said she hopes for at least $2 million, but the city is seeking the “best we can get.”
Kevin Edwards is news editor and reports on Starkville and Oktibbeha County government.
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