Infrastructure and pedestrian improvement projects are moving forward across Bryson City, with town officials focusing on water, wastewater and downtown upgrades in the coming months.
“The biggest projects are the wastewater treatment plant and finishing the water line across the river near Slope Street,” said Nate Bowe, engineer for the Town of Bryson City.
Bowe said work will soon begin on a long-anticipated downtown sidewalk improvement project.
“The sidewalk project on Main Street will be starting very soon and running through fall,” he said. “The plan for that is new sidewalks and other pedestrian improvements along Main Street from River Street to the IGA.”
Town crews are also wrapping up utility work on Greenlee Street.
“Our guys are just finishing a water line replacement on Greenlee and then we’ll be paving that road,” Bowe said.
Additional improvements are planned near Island Park, where the town is developing more parking space.
“We are establishing a new gravel parking area for Island Park, off Bryson Street where that old trailer was,” Bowe said. “Still a work in progress.”
Bowe said another major roadway improvement is expected through a state-led paving project.
“Main Street is set to be resurfaced from The Square to Governors Island bridge later this year or next spring, but that’s a DOT project,” he said.
While several smaller projects are also underway, Bowe said the larger initiatives are supported through outside funding sources.
“Greenlee is from our operating budget, parking area for Island will also be from town funds,” he said, adding that “the big ones are funded through various loan and grant programs.”