Work has finally begun on the South Church Street sidewalk project.
Crews from Concrete Specialties of Mount Olive have already spread fill dirt along a stretch of Church Street from Franklin to Nelson streets.
Town Manager Jammie Royall said the area where the sidewalk is going to be installed is low and needed fill dirt to build it up higher.
He said he expects the project to be completed by the end of July.
When the project is completed, Royall said, he hopes the same company will be ready to begin the second phase, which includes installing a sidewalk from Nelson to Hillsboro Streets along Church. There are six easements that must be obtained before that work can begin.
Royall said three of them have already been obtained and he sees no issues with obtaining the other three. The owners of the property are local.
“I think once they see what was done with the sidewalk between Franklin and Nelson Streets they will be glad to sign the easement,” said the town manager.
The final phase of the project calls for a sidewalk from Hillsboro to South Center Street.
The town manager said the long range plan is to have a sidewalk on the east side of the street from Hillsboro north for about 10 blocks.
