In early September 2022, work commenced on the East Canal Road widening RESTORE grant project from Highway 161 to Wilson Boulevard.
This roughly 1.4-mile section of Canal Road will be expanded to three lanes to allow for a middle turn lane. A roundabout will be constructed near the public library and a 10-foot multi-use path will be created on the north side of the road between Callaway Drive and Wilson Boulevard.
Thompson Engineering is the project engineer and John G. Walton Construction Company, Inc. was awarded the construction contract in the amount of $7.36 million. The majority of the cost for this project will be paid for with post-BP oil spill Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourism Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) funds. The RESTORE grant will cover $5.9 million.
The contractor began clearing areas along the route during the week of Sept. 5, 2022. Also, the grading of the roundabout area is expected to begin during the week of Sept. 12. Work on the multi-use path began this week on the west end of Canal Road and that will continue as the path construction moves east.
The overall construction is expected to take a year and a half with completion in early 2024.