Construction equipment will be moved into the City in a few weeks and the work will begin soon after.At its January 10th meeting, the Blue Ridge City Council approved for Mayor Donna Whitener to sign the papers to move ahead with the second phase of the Streetscape Project—the first phase was completed in 2009. The Council also accepted the lowest bid for the construction of the project. The Council awarded the bid to Johnson Landscape Company. Mayor Whitener said that the price of the bid is $272,422. City Administrator Bill Sowers said that the funding for the project is a part of a grant from The Georgia Department of Transportation. The City’s match for the grant was $75,000, he said, which was paid for with SPLOST money.

Council Member Rhonda Thomas explained that the Streetscape Project is more than mere beautification. She said that the project will replace curbing, add curbing, and pave certain parts of the street. Phase II will start on West Main Street on the opposite side of the Gazebo in front of The United Methodist Church, proceed across the four-way intersection at the Coldwell Banker Building and then down to the SunTrust Bank.

Several business owners came out to hear about the project, expressing concern about the interruption to the flow of business during the construction. Another concern is the number of parking spaces lost at completion. Offering solace for the parking concern, Whitener said that in the end, Main Street will only lose six spaces. Council Member Thomas interjected that the staff of businesses on West Main Street that will be affected by the project, will be able to park in the side lot at City Hall. Later, Thomas also introduced a plan to build a parking garage.

According to Whitener and Thomas, construction equipment will be moved into the City in a few weeks and the work will begin soon after. Once started, the Mayor said that the project will last 120 days. Phase III of Streetscape will begin in approximately four months, which will address the Train Depot area, and Phase IV will address from the Depot down to Mountain Street and will begin in the next couple of years, funds permitting, Thomas said.