The progress being made on the courthouse grounds is a little behind schedule due to the unusually cold winter that Tennessee has experienced this year. The weather during the winter months was approximately 20 degrees colder than normal for this area. This has been the cause for not being able to pour concrete in different areas of the courthouse square.
Project Manager Terry Preston of Preston Brothers Construction Company said that they are still hoping for a mid April finish time, but “there is no guarantee that we will be able to make this time.”
The construction time contract agreed upon was six months, which would have put the finish date in June. An April date was a personal goal set by Preston Brothers for completion because it would be done before “Good Ole Days” he added. But at this time he doesn’t see that happening; basically it will be up to the weather.
There have been changes made to the original plan also, for instance in order to save some money for some extended work on the pavement three of the original four clocks will be sacrificed. The clocks cost $15,000.00 a piece and were to set on each of the four corners of the courthouse square. This would be a savings of $45,000.00 dollars to use on the additional pavement.
The concrete was delivered for the side walk on the north side of the square on Friday, the last part of the week turned out to be sunny and agreeable for the pouring of the sidewalks.
Also on Friday the entrance to the interior of the courthouse will now be the east entrance. That entrance has the disability ramp and door that will allow the ease of access for those who are handicapped.
Work on the south side (facing Main Street) will start Monday. Concrete that will be poured at a different date will also need to have good weather for the enhancement of the concrete. A stamped design on the new concrete calls for good weather where the concrete will have a brick pattern.
Preston says the inconvenience with the parking is only going to get worse and he apologizes to the businesses around the square. This cannot be helped and it is the hope that when this project is completed the new look of the grounds will bring more people to the center of town. The parking areas around the town will be at a premium until this project is completed.
Good Ole Days will take place on May 14th and 15th and there is a possibility that it could be done on the Square, however if not the Good Ole Days will move to Dillon Park across the river below the Stones River Hospital.