Courthouse Renovations Close Depot Street

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Due to courthouse renovations in downtown Jasper, Depot Street is now closed. The street will be close for the duration of the project.

See article below for background. If the city council approves an informal request made this week by Pickens County Commissioner Robert Jones, the answer is yes. At the January 18th City Council Meeting, Commissioner Robert Jones gave a presentation on the latest phase of the courthouse renovation project. The purpose of the presentation was twofold. First, Jones gave an update on the renovation project, highlighting work completed, emphasizing work ahead, and sharing a vision of the final product, a renovated, refurbished, and larger courthouse. The second purpose of the commissioner’s visit was to request permission to close off part of a nearby road for the interim of the construction phase, and possibly entirely closing two roads.

Following the update, Jones requested the city close part of Depot Street for a staging area during the demolition portion of the project. The commissioner also requested that, in the latter part of March or the first of April, the county will request to close Court and Depot Streets for the construction period, which would forge a possible new route.

“What we’re looking at for the proposed lay-out is Court Street; the street between Mr. Pickett’s office and the courthouse will be a one way flow, going back into Wheeler Street. It will then come into Depot Street, come back out one way, (and) come back out to Main Street,”

Jones explained, standing in front of an easel holding a sketch-diagram of the building. Council Member Anne Morrow wanted to know how long he anticipates keeping the roads closed.

“Construction of the building will be anywhere between 18 months and 24 months,”

Jones said. Other council members, though, were concerned about how these closures would affect businesses and whether Jones has discussed the plan with businesses owners on Court and Depot Streets. Jones said that he has yet to speak with the owners, but said that when the project is finished, 13 parking spaces will be lost along Court Street, but the city will gain 130 spaces in a parking lot behind the courthouse. In the end, the project will only lose eight parking spaces, according to Project Manager Thurman Slone.

FYN has requested a copy of the map of the would-be new route. However, Mr. Slone said that he did not want to release the map before it was approved by the council. Commenting, on the change in traffic flow, Jones said that it would only change slightly.

The council approved closing part of Depot Street as a staging area for the construction of the back part of the structure, but said that it would have to hold a meeting to discuss whether or not to close Court and Depot Streets.

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