[5/5/04]Utility companies are in the process of getting out of the way this week of a long-planned project to widen the Clay and Hope street intersection.

Vicksburg officials say they could begin advertising for the project within a month and start work later this summer. The job is expected to take about six months to complete, said South Ward Alderman Sid Beauman.

“We’re a good 2 1/2 months away from construction,” Beauman said.

The first step is to move power, cable, water and gas utility lines from the project area. Entergy installed new poles last week and began moving power lines Monday.

City Engineer Garnet Van Norman said the city will start moving its water and gas lines next week.

The $1.2 million project will include widening parts of Hope and Clay streets, straightening out the intersection and installing mast-arm traffic signals. When finished, the intersection should look similar to Clay and Mission. The work is being funded out of the $17.5 million bond issue approved in 2001.

The plan has been on the books at City Hall for years and has been in the design phase for the past two years. One holdup has been acquiring land from adjacent property owners to widen the roads.

Last year, the city paid $250,000 for the Big Bucks BBQ Smokehouse property at 2900 Clay St., for the project.

The building was torn down, and some of the property is going for the widening of Hope Street. The rest of the lot is being exchanged for property along Clay Street that is now part of the Red Carpet Lanes parking lot.

In all, the city had to negotiate property deals with six businesses along Clay Street for the project. Other businesses that have been affected include the Emmich Building, Holiday Liquors, the former Mutual Finance building and Texaco.

City officials have said the project is important because the intersection is one of the first points past the Vicksburg Military Park and because of the traffic volume there. About 20,000 on vehicles Clay Street pass through the intersection daily, according to a Mississippi Department of Transportation report.