Prince Street project ahead of schedule

The Prince Street rehabilitation project is well ahead of schedule, according to Public Works Director Clint Bunch.

Considered a major rehabilitation of the city’s main artery, the $3 million project was estimated to take 120 days and included resurfacing, drainage installation and adding sidewalks compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Work started in early September, with about 45 working days passed so far.

Bunch said a combination of good weather and cooperation between the engineers, construction crew and the city moved the project along quickly.

“Work’s going well, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather and better cooperation between all the people involved,” he said.

He said night work performed by K. Barnett & Sons road crews sped the project’s progress.

As of Wednesday, road crews were painting lanes on the newly paved stretch of Prince Street from 21st Street to Llano Estacado Boulevard, according to Bunch.

A drainage system, which will empty water from Prince Street into the Iris Arbor lake, is being constructed, Bunch said.

Bunch said road crews will also work on installing a traffic island to separate lanes on the intersection of Prince and Manana streets.