JAY — While Commerce Street’s closing may inconvenience residents and business owners, Jay officials hope renovations along the well traveled roadway will pay off in the future.
Town Clerk Linda Carden anticipates the project to be completed within the next 60 days.
GALLERY: Photos of work being done on Commerce Street>
“They are making more progress on it each day,” she said.
The project, which includes drainage, resurfacing, new sidewalks and lighting, is expected to cost between $325,000 and $350,000, Carden said.
Most of the funding comes from the town’s reserve fund. However, the town seeks $60,000 worth of legislative funding for the drainage portion, Carden said.
The roadwork, including drainage work, has been needed for quite some time, Carden said.
“We have repaved the road several times in the past,” she said. “If we were to just pave it again it would send water into the doors of businesses.”
Jay Mayor Kurvin Qualls has said the completed project could attract more businesses to the area and boost future community events with the added improvements.
For now, ongoing renovations have affected businesses.
Many businesses along the road allow customers to use back entrances not facing Commerce Street, Carden said.
One business, Jack’s Vapor, had a sign stating it had moved to Milton during construction.
Meanwhile, more improvements are coming.
In the near future, the town can expect water lines to be installed, along with a new water well.
In 2015, the city received a $600,000 grant from the Northwest Florida Water Management District to replace outdated waterlines.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Commerce Street renovations near completion (VIDEO, PHOTOS)