Lavonia Streetscape Project Out to Bid

By MJ Kneiser, WLHR Radio, Lavonia

The city of Lavonia is finally getting to move forward with its long-planned Streetscape project.

At its regular meeting last Monday, Lavonia City Manager Charles Cawthon told the City Council and Mayor Ralph Owens he expects the project to begin soon.

“We have a bid date of June 30th and we’re hoping to get a good bid on it so we can forward with it and not delay this project any further,” he told the Council.

Lavonia has been trying to do this streetscape project using funds from the Georgia Department of Transportation, along with SPLOST dollars, for more than four years, but each time the city was ready to bid out the work, the state funding would be put on the back burner.

Cawthon said the plan calls for repairing and upgrading the downtown sidewalks.

“It’s basically replacing most of the downtown sidewalks and putting in hand rails in some areas,” Cawthon said. “When you look at it, the sidewalks are in pretty bad shape. So, I think this will be a net positive for the town. There will be some disruption for awhile, but I think the disruption will be minor in comparison with the outcome.”

Meanwhile, Lavonia City Councilman Harold Harbin asked about a plan to put in some downtown street lighting at the same time.

Cawthon said he would look into that.

However, Mayor Owens indicated that part of the Lavonia Streetscape project was not put into this phase and would have to be done at another time.