Intersection closure expected to disrupt traffic at Pettus and McNamara

Repaving McNamara Road from Pettus Street to Arcola Road will cause major disruption in traffic for two to three weeks. The busy intersection at Pettus and McNamara will need to be shut down to all vehicles during that time and traffic diverted.

The Demopolis City Council Thursday approved a temporary route for trucks delivering limestone to the Cemex plant on Arcola but hashed out other ways to lessen the damage to city streets during the shutdown.

Some 300 truckloads of limestone travel to and from the plant in a 24-hour period, said Mayor Woody Collins. City project manager Mike Baker said state regulations require trucks to use a lighted intersection when turning off a major highway. He reported that after talking with state highway officials the best route for the trucks will be on Front Street from U.S. Hwy. 80 to Pettus Street and then to Arcola.

Councilman Charles Jones suggested that the trucks can use Cedar Street, which is U.S. Hwy. 43, and turn on Pettus after school lets out to keep from tearing up Front Street, which the city would have to repair. Baker said he would work with state officials and Cemex to see if the alternate route is feasible.

“It’s going to be a mess,” said Baker, but he is trying to be “sure we’re expediting this thing.”

The Council also set a temporary speed limit of 15 mph along the Front/Arcola route during construction.

Another closing will be at the U.S. Hwy. 43 SportsPlex entrance and Broadway, Baker told the Council during its work session before the meeting. The closure is expected to last two to four weeks. Entry will be by the dirt alley leading to the main entrance.

Jones said the work will be extremely disruptive to the 125 students at the Demopolis Higher Education Center expected to start classes this fall.

The Council approved letting Frazer-Lanier investment banking firm start the process to refinance a city bond issue. The action is expected to save the city about $20,000 annually through the life of the bond ending in 2037. Either the firm or the city can cancel the process if the interest rates are not justifiable.

Collins said the old City Jail has been demolished and the original 12-man cell recovered from the building. He said his research shows the steel structure, now set off the one side of the site, was the original jail where the Commissioners Street water tower is located.

“I am proud of the Council for pulling the trigger to spend the money on the jail,” said Collins. “We keep beating up the community on beautification. This is something we had that needed done for a long, long time, and I hope the community sees that we’ve done our part of cleaning the community up.”

               In the discussion phase of the meeting, Councilman Jones asked if a portion of the COVID-19 relief money coming to the city could be used for culverts along Jackson Street and the canal along Ash Street that has caused problems for decades.

               “I am hoping we can do some of this drainage work with some of this money,” Collins said.