Several major infrastructure projects in Sumrall are underway – or have already been completed – despite the steady rainfall received by the area over the last several weeks.
During a recent “State of the Town” meeting held at Sumrall Town Hall, Mayor Heath Sumrall took the opportunity to give the public an update on the projects, which include a drainage project in The Oaks neighborhood, a water main project on Mississippi 589, the realignment of Center Lane, and the installation of a traffic control signal light at the intersection of Mississippi 42 and 589.
Oaks drainage project
Work recently wrapped up on a $187,000 drainage project on West Spanish Oaks, designed to alleviate flooding from stormwater. That project consisted of installing a new 42-inch arch pipe in the cul-de-sac at the end of that street, allowing a bulkhead to divert the water running from East Spanish Oaks and The Oaks Drive.
Phase 3 of The Oaks neighborhood is complete, while Phase 4 – which will add more homes to the neighborhood – is underway. Both of those phases are expected to increase the city’s tax base.
“There will be Phases 5 and 6 also in The Oaks,” Sumrall said. “They’re in the early planning stages, so we haven’t seen any final (determinations) on that yet.”
MS 589 water main project
Replacement of a water main on the side of Mississippi 589 South, which began late last year, is complete, with cleanup and cosmetic work underway. The $800,000 project, which was designed to increase water pressure and volume, entailed the installation of a 12-inch water main from the water tank on Mississippi 589 to Oloh Road.
To provide improved fire protection, 17 fire hydrants were added as part of the project. The strongest of those hydrants pushes out 1,000 gallons of water per minute, while the weakest gives 531 gallons per minute.
“This is something that we’ve been trying to do since Day One,” Sumrall said. “When the town annexed the property on Highway 589 in 2007, the town was under obligation to provide fire protection and other services for that area.
“I’m happy to announce now that fire protection services for 75 percent of that area has been accomplished.”
The town previously secured a loan of $700,000 for the project, but paid almost $400,000 out of its cash funds, leaving officials to borrow only approximately $250,000.
“The project bid came in at $500,000,” Sumrall said. “We added an extension to that line, which ran it up to $600,000. So we’re proud of (lowering the amount we had to borrow).”
Center Lane realignment
The relocation of Center Lane, which is being moved north of its current location to eliminate the dangerous multi-way intersection near the United States Post Office on Mississippi 589, has been stalled by rainfall. The project, which is being conducted with help from Lamar County, will move Center Lane to form a four-way intersection with City Hall Avenue and Main Street/589.
“The purpose of this relocation was the safety at the intersection of Highway 589 and Railroad Avenue and the (Longleaf Trace) trail crossing,” Sumrall said. “You can see the road has been rained out, and most of it has been completed, but there were some water issues because of underground springs.
“So we had to go back and get the road back up, and put some fresh drainage in to drain the water. But it’s been raining ever since.”
The $84,000 project will eliminate two old drainage ditches, which is expected to cut down on standing water to put a halt to mosquito growth in that area. Paving will occur as soon as dirt work is complete, and nine parallel parking spots will be added along the south side of the new roadway.
“So that will help us out with parking downtown when we have events,” Sumrall said. “It’ll also help for people who want to use the trail, so they can park on that side near the trail.”
Traffic control signal light
Plans have been completed for a new traffic light at the intersection of Mississippi 42 and 589, and bids for the project are being advertised until February 20. The light will tie into a project for new sidewalks and curbs on Mississippi 589, plans for which have be submitted to the Mississippi Department of Transportation for review.
“It will allow signal crosswalks at 42 and 589,” Sumrall said. “The sidewalk goes all the way up to Subway on this side of the highway, and there will be a push-button crosswalk to signal people walking across or using bicycles.
“Then there will be another one that goes across 589 to the Shell station. So that entire intersection’s going to be a mess for a while.”
