Officials outline Dauphin Street project for citizens

The long awaited Dauphin Street reconstruction project is soon to begin and residents learned more about what to expect at a meeting June 11.

Ken Sanders, lead engineer for the two-phase project, joined Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell, city councilmen and city department heads in an informational public meeting held at the Farmers Market.

The road, which serves as a connector between Main Street and the Boll Weevil Circle, is being reconstructed under an agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation, through its Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program.

The grading, draining, base and paving improvements will be done on a section from North Main Street to Shellfield Road, and from .15 miles north of Alberta Street to U.S. 84.

The construction staging area is already marked with neon orange netting and the digging is expected to begin next week.

The project is expected to take at least nine months or longer to complete, depending on the weather, Sanders told those attending the meeting. “Weather does play a major role,” he said.

The project includes replacing water, sewer and gas lines. Enterprise Water Department Field Superintendent Alan Mahan said that there might be short interruptions of water service as the new pipe is laid, but that residents will be notified of any planned water outages.

Sanders said the project will be broken into seven phases, with each phase being about 30-45 days in duration.

Enterprise Police Chief T.D. Jones said that no through traffic will be allowed on Dauphin Street for the duration of the project and that signs will be in place directing motorists to use alternate routes.

Jones said that he is in communication with the Enterprise City Schools Transportation Supervisor regarding school bus routes during the reconstruction.

The new road will be 24 feet wide, the same width as the existing road, Boswell said. “The new road will go right where the existing road is.

“Basically, you are going to get a whole new road,” Sanders told residents. Boswell agreed. “The project is about to come to fruition,” Boswell said. “We could not have done it without the help of ALDOT. This street, in my opinion, is more than overdue for an overhaul.”

Sanders said that residents of Dauphin Street experiencing any problems during the project are asked to call his office at (334) 793-4700.