Perry official describes upcoming capital improvement projects

Capital improvements in Perry — including a realignment of Main Street, road resurfacing and advancements in sewer capacity — are among recently completed projects and work to come, according to the city’s engineering services manager, Chad McMurrian.

He said one of the most impactful incoming projects involves the reworking of 700 Main Street at the city’s old water plant.

“That particular area, we are going to realign the street from the way Main Street currently connects in to Courtney Hodges [Boulevard], and we are going to turn it through the little parking lot-drive through concrete area beside Legacy Park, and it’s going to come out on Carroll Street.”

McMurrian went on to explain further: “So, Main Street will make a 90-degree turn and go toward Carroll Street, whereas now it goes kind of straight and curves into Courtney Hodges [Boulevard].”

He revealed that the realignment project would begin January 3, featuring a 120-day contract.

According to McMurrian, city personnel have also prioritized increasing sewer capacity in some locations in Perry, and one project to improve a city pump station and serve the East Perry area is supposed to be completed in its first phase on July 1.

“City engineering has recognized there’s some capacity limit constraints, and we’re trying to improve this,” he said.

Another sewer project involves upgrading a main line that runs along a creek though the middle of Perry.

“We have the project out to bid,” he revealed. “Provided the bids are approved, we will be moving forward on the project — I’d say 60 to 90 days. The project is scheduled to take about nine months to complete.”

Perry received funds courtesy of the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to resurface some city roadways.

“The DOT funds us some money, and we [the city of Perry] do a 30% match to repave some streets,” McMurrian said. “All that [resurfacing] is complete for 2021.”

He said the Perry roadways improved under the LMIG grant include the following: Kings Chapel Road, Riley Street, Stanley Street, Gordy Street, Deanview Drive, Baird Drive, Parkway Drive, Lawson Drive, Marshall Circle and Duncan Avenue.

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