Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold is praising the efforts of work crews in completing a downtown street improvement project "well ahead of schedule." The mayor tells the Ford County Chronicle this was a project that started six years ago, many thought would never happen. The work was first proposed in 2016. A target date for completion was the end of August after starting in March, and now, it's about done.
The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) funded a grant for the $1.1 million streetscape improvement. Iroquois Paving Corporation of Watseka contracted with Paxton for the work.
Work detail included resurfacing of four blocks of Market Street, striping and historic-looking pedestrian lightpoles will be installed. Mayor Ingold told the Chronicle handicapped-accessible ramps and other decorative benches and railings will be installed.
The City has also applied for another (DCEO) grant to fund a second phase of the project.
94.1 WGFA