Grant work begins this summer

Grant work begins this summer Brian Smith Wed, 03/13/2024 - 8:30 am   The sidewalk along Archer Street on the north side of the courthouse will be moved south about five feet toward the building to allow for easier access for vehicles along the street later this summer. The work is expected to take place the second half of the year as part of the Downtown Revitalization Grant program. Photos/Brian Smith Jacksboro officials will be spending the last six months of the year working on making getting around Archer and Church Streets a little easier. City Manager Mike Smith and city staff have been working on getting a grant for the project for the last few years but several things, including grant administrators, have slowed the process down. With the $350,000 grant secured, Smith said bids for Phase 1 project are expected to go out in May. Smith said the initial bids will be to repair the sidewalks along Archer Street, all the way up to the buildings, on the north side of the courthouse. The streets will also be widened by taking about five feet of the courthouse lawn to make it easier for traffic to get through when cars are parked there. “It’ll be easier to get fire equipment and just overall traffic through there,” Smith noted. Smith said a contractor should be hired in June with work to start in July and take most of the rest of the year. The city, Jack County and Jacksboro Economic Development Corporation will also be adding money to the grant for the work to be completed. Phase 2 of the project which the grant did not cover will do the same process along Church Street on the east side of the courthouse. No start date for that has been determined. “Archer Street definitely needed the work more, so we will be starting there,” Smith said.