By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
The Brewton City Council on Tuesday approved a bid to build a turn lane on U.S. 31 and Old Castleberry Road, in preparation for extra traffic for the new middle school at that intersection.
The turn lanes will help direct traffic to the new school off U.S. 31. The main entrance to the school will be located off of Old Castleberry Road.
The bid was awarded to Wiregrass Construction Co. for $587,992.50.
The city will not pay any of the funds for the project; any funds not paid by the state Department of Transportation will come from the city schools.
Smith said the project will eventually include a traffic light at that intersection, but that was not included in the bid approved Tuesday.
The new school is expected to open in 2011.
Smith has said that contractors have begun work on the site, mainly moving dirt to help level the property, which sits on about 100 acres near the water tower visible from U.S. 31 and Old Castleberry Road.