Wetumpka Downtown Redevelopment Finally Underway
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It’s hard to miss the construction going on down here.
The latest project has been replacing a water line.
But it will be a while before we see the finished product.
It’s been talked about for years, but it’s finally started.
Wetumpka’s $850,000 project is underway, and the first phase is updating the aging infrastructure downtown.
But this won’t happen overnight.
“It’s going to be slow and it’s going to affect traffic. We just hope people will work with us and understand,” said Mayor Willis.
Working on this waterline alone has stretched from a two day to a four day project.
Public Works Director Tex Grier says there are already challenges.
“Well it’s a 120 day project, but as any project goes with digging up streets and going into old infrastructure, you run into unforeseen difficulties. That’s what’s happened here,” said Grier.
You can see the history of Wetumpka’s streets right here, including brick that dates back to the 1800’s.
Even with all the detours, businesses like the Grumpy Dog are looking forward to seeing the new downtown.
“Well I think anytime you have a project like this you can expect to have some delays, so it’s going to be ok. As far as me as a business owner, I get a lot of business down here. And with the detours and construction areas everyone wants to come see what’s going on or they have to come down because of the detour, so I benefit from that as well,” said Will Lanum.
But the owner of Vault Variety Shop is worried about the construction.
“Excited and nervous at the same time. Excited that we need it desperately, but nervous about the traffic not wanting to come down here. But I think that once they see the outcome they’ll be real excited, because we need it,” said Sally Brooks.
