It has been nearly a year since drainage work began on Belleville Avenue, a project that was intended to take a few months.

The road, quite literally, has been frustrating, city officials said.

But on Tuesday, city council members approved contracts with two new companies that will complete the drainage and paving work on the street that runs past residences and the library and behind Brewton Elementary School.

“It has been a long process,” Mayor Ted Jennings said. “It has been frustrating for everybody, from residents to construction workers.”

The company originally contracted to do the work — Martin Construction of Atmore — left the job in recent weeks, after delays and problems caused the company to surpass its deadline by months. The city’s contract with Martin forced the company to pay for each day it was over deadline.

Beasley and Co., a Brewton firm familiar with drainage work, won the contract to complete the drainage for $45,000 to $65,000.

Roads Inc. of Cantonment, Fla., will do the paving for $136,000.

The city had secured grant funding for the project more than a year ago.

Jennings said he does not want to make promises but believes the work can be wrapped up before school begins.

“We’re working hard to be finished before the school year,” he said. “We feel like we see the light at the end of the tunnel.”