Workers have started construction on West Fairview Avenue just off the interstate in Montgomery with a plan to reduce its four lanes to three and add sidewalks, and city leaders see the movement as a positive sign for future growth.
“The thing I like about it is now we see progress,” City Councilor Franetta Riley said.
The 18-month project will take the street’s four lanes down to two travel lanes and one turning lane. The $9 million endeavor runs between the Interstate 65 interchange and South Court Street.
Money for the revamp comes from the Federal Highway Administration.
Councilor Andrew Szymanski called the construction a catalyst for growth in the area, which serves as the western entrance to the city.
Efforts to lay the groundwork for the project started 10 years ago. “This is not just a roads project,” Mayor Steven Reed said, adding that the slower speeds and sidewalks will make the storefronts more accessible.
He also said that the city has been working with private developers and the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce to bring businesses to the corridor, which a study showed has a dire need for retailers, including food options such as restaurants and grocery stores.