CULLMAN, Ala. – After many months of rerouted traffic, the portion of Second Avenue NE that runs along Depot Park and in front of the Cullman Police Department is expected to be “open near the beginning of August, and ‘substantial completion’ should be near the end of the August,” according to City of Cullman Engineer Erica York.
Included in the project, which started near the beginning of 2022 are “new curb and gutter, ADA-compliant sidewalks, brick pavers, decorative lighting, addition of nearly 100 on-street parking spaces, the removal of overhead utility obstacles and new pavement.”
Said York, “A large focus of this project has been to get the city within ADA compliance. While there may be some minor inconveniences at this time, it is important that we capitalize on the opportunity of a grant-funded project which provides people of all abilities the chance to enjoy the many events put on by the City and other entities in the area.”
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs agreed that the availability of grants to fund the majority of the project was key.
“As Cullman continues to see record growth within the city, it is important that we find long-term solutions to prevent and remediate longtime obstacles – especially when almost all the funding is an outside source via grants,” he said.
“It has been amazing how well the project has gone considering all the supply chain issues, labor force issues and inflation-related issues that we are facing all throughout the nation,” he continued. “From the contractors to all of the subcontractors, they have worked very hard in some very rainy spring conditions to the current extremely hot conditions here at the end, and we appreciate their efforts.”
Jacobs was quick to point out that the project, as with many others, has been a group endeavor.
“From securing the grant, to developing design, to getting with the adjacent property owners, to the engineering, to the laying of bricks, electrical and pavement- this has all been a team effort and we cannot wait to see the end result here in the next few weeks
“I am excited to see this grant-funded project complete, the new Monograms Plus building over by the railroad tracks and the Cullman Middle School renovation and expansion. The improvements of this area will really enhance the downtown area of Cullman.”
It should be noted that, while the street construction will be completed soon, the Cullman City School’s Capital Improvement Plan project at Cullman Middle School may impact the area during its construction.
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