Two down, two to go.
Watson Contracting has begun preliminary work on the last two of the four roundabouts scheduled for construction in Franklin one at Wayah and Porter streets and another at Wayah and Maple streets.
NCDOT resident engineer Trent Anderson said Thursday that some storm water drainage systems, sewer lines and water lines have already been installed at the sites. The wet weather of last spring and summer has presented some delays, but Anderson said that the project as a whole is still on track.
Actual construction of the roundabouts and building detours won’t get underway until summer 2020, he said.
“Offsite detours will be utilized from June 1, 2020 to August 24, 2020 to finish constructing the Porter Street and Maple Street roundabouts,” Anderson said.
At the Porter Street location, construction crews have claimed part of the parking lot at Macon County Senior Services. Plans are for the center to expand parking at the adjacent site of the former chamber of commerce.
Senior center director Jennifer Hollifield said the presence of the crews has not been much of an inconvenience.
“We knew it was coming,” Hollifield said. “It is what it is.”
The remaining two roundabouts are scheduled for completion by Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.