By Cassandra Mickens (Contact) | Shelby County Reporter
Published Tuesday, July 21, 2009
INDIAN SPRINGS VILLAGE — A new contractor will soon resume work to widen Alabama 119 in Indian Springs Village, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation.
Kent Construction of Hanceville abandoned the $2.8 million project in December. Though orange and white construction barrels line the highway from the Interstate 65 interchange to just past Caldwell Mill Road, paving work and turn lane additions have yet to be finished.
The ICW Group, an insurance company that assured Kent Construction would finish the job, accepted proposals from new prime contractors July 17, said Gary Ray, ALDOT district engineer. The proposals were then forwarded to the Guardian Group, a company hired by ICW to handle bond claims.
Ray said ICW hopes to have a new contractor on the job by July 27.
Guardian has hired a separate contractor, Carcel and G Construction of Cullman, to address maintenance issues and storm water management. Carcel and G began work Monday.
Ray hopes the project will be complete by the end of the year.
“I appreciate the patience of the people in the area and hopefully the end is in sight,” he said.
Indian Springs Mayor Steve Zerkis said his major concern since construction stalled is the safety of travelers and citizens who live along Alabama 119. He is confident ALDOT will oversee the project’s completion.
“We’ll appreciate when it’s done and we’ll believe it when it’s done too,” Zerkis said. “We’re just anxious to get it out of the way, get it finished and put it behind us.”
