Wet Weather Causing Delays In Finishing Fourth Street Project

Recent rainy weather has put a damper on getting the Fourth Street project in downtown Columbus completed.

Our news gathering partners at "The Republic" report that Columbus City Engineer David Hayward and Rieth-Riley Project Superintendent Gary Davis had forecast last week that the $1.7 million street repaving and beautification job would be finished by this Friday or Saturday. The original timeline called for completion by Nov. 7, but weather and other factors made that schedule unattainable.

Davis says they have probably lost 10 to 12 days to rain, which has stopped them from pouring concrete. Davis believes they are not going to make the deadline, but is promising that workers will give it their best shot.

Once the wintry mix stopped Monday, electrical workers were able to get back to work, but paving crew members won't be back until today.

Davis told the paper brick paving is expected to start today on the stretch of Fourth Street between Washington and Franklin streets. He says that should take about three days. Then crews will move on to the other block of Fourth Street between Washington and Jackson streets to the western edge of the project.

For more details, go to www.therepublic.com.