Repaving in Natchez for Canal, Homochitto streets expected in November

NATCHEZ, Miss. – Aldermen on Tuesday approved a million-dollar contract for resurfacing Canal and Homochitto streets. 

Theobald Construction Services of Vicksburg will put new asphalt overlays on two of the busiest thoroughfares in Natchez. The $1.1 million project is expected to begin early November, said Natchez Community Development Director James Johnston. 

This comes after failing twice this past summer in attracting proposals from contractors wanting the job. City officials were previously told it’d be another year before contractors could finish projects elsewhere to get to Natchez. In their third try, city officials got two bids Tuesday from construction companies, with Theobald besting Richland-based APAC.

The Board of Aldermen budgeted $1 million for street repairs in the fiscal year that started this month. Patchwork is also being done for Main and Franklin streets.

This follows the $6 million that the board allocated last year for putting new surfaces on more than 50 city streets. 

Work is also being done to the Canal Street bridge that’s being stabilized as planning is underway for its eventual replacement. The $626,000 bridge-repair project by Natchez-based Dozer began last week. Even with the repairs, the much-traveled bridge could still be considered too frail for heavy vehicles, Mayor Dan Gibson has said. Long-term planning is underway for finding funds for building a replacement bridge that Gibson said could cost about $8 million and take three or more years to do.

Also recently begun by Dozer is the Morgantown Road project to improve its drainage and pavement. 

“We are moving forward with our infrastructure, and we need to be proud of the work that we are doing,” said Alderman Valencia Hall.

Another construction bid approved by aldermen Tuesday is for repairing the city-owned Angelety House, which historians say was built around 1845. With a $142,000 grant received from the state combined with city funds, about $230,000 in repairs for the St. Catherine Street structure’s exterior will include its roof, gutters, windows and doors. Wilmar Construction of Vidalia will do the work.

 The historic Angelety House’s structural problems make it unusable, according to reports provided to the mayor and aldermen. It has a leaky roof, mold and other deterioration that need to be remedied.