MONTAGUE COUNTY ( KFDX/KJTL )— Over the last several months, the city of Bowie has been finalizing plans for street and sidewalk renovations to revitalize the city’s downtown.

With the construction of the project on the horizon, city officials held an informational meeting for concerned citizens and business owners who wanted to know how the construction would affect their daily routines.

Many of them are business owners along Smythe Street, one of the streets slated to undergo renovations. City Manager Bert Cunningham hopes they walked away assured that they won’t be overly inconvenienced by the project.

“They’re worried about access for their businesses, access to their homes and they’re wanting to know, are we going to turn the water off for a length of time and things like that,” Cunningham said.

The upcoming renovations consist of various sidewalk additions, street repairs, and new street lighting along Smythe and Wise Streets. The north and south stretch of Smythe Street from Montague to Wise Street, though, is undergoing the greatest changes.

In February, the city approved a two-year $450,000 grant for the project, meaning it has two years to spend the allotted money. Cunningham expects a quicker process for the construction once a contractor is chosen, however.

“The warmer weather gets here, we’re able to pour concrete when it’s you know, advantageous to do that,” Cunningham said. “So, it’s going to be a springtime in six months, I think a six-month process because there’s just not that much to do.”

For many of the business owners along Smythe Street, the project has been a long time coming. Years ago, renovations to the same stretch of the road ended up putting a sidewalk on one side of the road, but money ran out, preventing a sidewalk from being put on the other side of the road.

Despite the potential inconveniences of the upcoming construction, many business owners like Pam Barlow, owner of the Bowie Pet Clinic, are just happy the city is finally moving forward on the issue.

“I’m just very, very thankful that we’re finally getting this project done,” Barlow said. “I think it’s a very important part of keeping the city up to date and safe and pleasant for the whole community. And the better off the community, the better off the people of the community.”

Once the project is done, the city and other business owners hope the easier pedestrian access will provide a boost to the businesses on the south end of Smythe Street.

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