New contractor hired for Clay, Halls Ferry work

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 20, 2001

Hemphill Construction Foreman Paul Oswalt uses a total station to help establish the center point of Halls Ferry Road Monday. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[03/20/01] Work on busy intersections on Halls Ferry Road and on Clay Street will resume with a new contractor.

The Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen agreed Monday to hire Hemphill Construction of Florence after the original contractor withdrew due to internal financial problems.

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Hemphill began working on the intersection at Halls Ferry and Cain Ridge roads Monday. Widening the roadway at Clay Street and Mission 66 will start after utility work there is complete, said Nancy Thomas, city attorney.

“This will not cost us any more money than we agreed to in the contract that we originally signed,” Mayor Robert Walker said.

Both jobs had been awarded to J.B. Talley Inc. of St. Martinville, La. The contractor won the bid for the Clay Street project for $486,789 and the Halls Ferry Road project for about $1 million.

The Clay Street project was announced seven years ago, but had been on hold while city leaders negotiated for easements along the two roads. Last year, the city had to use its power of eminent domain to get some of the small parcels needed to widen the five-lane roadway.

Phase one of the Halls Ferry Road project began in 1997 and stretched from Pemberton Boulevard south to Woodland Drive. That part of the plan, completed in 1999, was done by APAC of Mississippi. APAC submitted bids for the second phase of the Halls Ferry Road project and the Clay Street project, but lost both to J.B. Talley.

In other matters the board:

Received two bids for replacing lighting along Washington Street in the downtown district.

Awarded bids for cleaning dumps sites at 2201 Marshall St. and 3500 Pearl St. The total cost to clean the two sites is $1,200.

Approved water tank maintenance contracts for $46,000 a year on tanks at the former Kuhn hospital, on Jackson Road, Porters Chapel Road and at the city airport.

Authorized the housing inspector to cut and clean lots at 848 Beechwood Road, 2008 Washington St., 3601 Security St., and 3607 Security St.

Appointed Grady Edwards to the City Election Commission to replace Virginia Morton who resigned effective March 7.

Discussed personnel matters in the police, fire and safety departments during a closed session.

The city board will meet again at 10 a.m. Monday at City Hall.