Aliceville to replace 80-year-old downtown waterline, begin streetscape work Aug. 17

Mayor Terrence Windle said the city secured two grants to address a deteriorated downtown waterline and to repave and streetscape the same area, and he set an Aug. 17 start date for construction.

"The old waterline has been there for 80 years, and is in need of repair," Windle said, adding that city officials were successful in winning a state grant that covers the waterline replacement and a separate grant for downtown repaving. He said the projects will run simultaneously as a joint two-phase effort.

Windle said the bridge near the former Texaco (by the housing authority) has been repaired and is walkable, and that the project contract includes two additional nearby bridges slated for completion within weeks. He thanked the water department, the city council, the water board, and engineers for coordinating on the grants.

The mayor said businesses will be notified in advance; the construction phase is planned to begin Aug. 17 and contractors will have 120 days from that date to complete the work covered in that phase, after which the city will finish the paving phase.

Separately, Windle said the city also received notices to proceed on streetscape work on Broad Street and drainage repairs on 9th Avenue leading to Aliceville City Park to address flooding into driveways and carports.

"We're in the process of two projects at one time," Windle said, urging patience while the work proceeds and noting crews will coordinate to minimize disruption.

Next steps: the city will post construction schedules and business notifications ahead of the Aug. 17 start and coordinate with utility and water personnel as the work progresses.