Cotton Avenue to get a new look
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

City officials announced this week that the Cotton Avenue Streetscape Improvement project (TE-grant) is one step closer to completion.

A press release issued by the city reads, "Final plans have been completed by the city's engineering consultant, W.R. Toole Engineers, Inc. and submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation (DOT) for review. City officials hope that the long and arduous task of receiving all approvals from the Georgia Department of Transportation for this project is nearing an end. The final hurdle is the approval of environmental and historic preservation documents that will allow the project to be "let for contract."

"The CSRA Regional Devel- opment Center is working diligently with the DOT to obtain these approvals. Because Transportation Enhancement (TE) funds are derived from the Federal Highway Administration, stringent environmental rules and processes are required. Although an exact timeline for approval of environmental documentation cannot be established, the Mayor and Council are working with state officials to expedite the approval process."

City of Millen Utility Director R.M. Small has indicated that the city will begin making improvements to the downtown water distribution system in anticipation of construction activities associated with the project. As this occurs, downtown merchants can expect to experience periodic shutdown of the water system and temporary water discoloration. Merchants will be notified prior to temporary water shutdowns, no environmental or safety concerns will occur.

The DOT awarded the city a $500,000 TE grant in 2004 for the purpose of renovating and promoting economic development in downtown Millen. An additional $350,000 TE grant was awarded the city in 2005. Due to the increased cost of materials, Millen City Council later voted to combine the two projects and bid them out as one with hopes of securing better bids

Phase I of the TE grant project will incorporate green space into Cotton Avenue, enhance lighting, make the sidewalks handicap accessible and provide for parallel parking on the store side of the street. Phase II provides for construction of additional parking lots on the railroad side of the street and other improvements. The city entered into an agreement with the C.S.R.A. Regional Development Center in June 2007 authorizing the agency to begin preparation of a third TE grant application. If it is approved, funds awarded would be used to complete the work on Cotton Avenue as well as initiate some improvements on Winthrope Avenue.

Federal funds available under the TE grant program provide 80 percent of the total project cost. The sponsor's local match must be at least 20 percent of the total project cost and may be cash, in-kind services or donated services, materials or real estate.