Parking Garage Timeline Shifted After Late Start

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

After starting construction about a month later than originally expected, the downtown parking garage should be open by the third week of September in 2019.

On Tuesday, the Oxford Board of Aldermen approved updating the timeline for the construction of the garage to reflect the actual start date of Sept. 24.

Construction was originally slated to being Aug. 27; however, the company hired to do the site and excavation work, Shaw Services of Holly Springs, had trouble securing its performance bond until the thrid week in September when construction finally began.

The project is expected to take 12 months to complete, which would have the garage open for business sometime in later September – after the start of the University of Mississippi Rebels football season kicks off.

Chief Operating Officer for the city, Bart Robinson told the aldermen there was no cost associated with the updating the timeline.

“We’re asking to shift those milestone dates so they are consistent with what our actual start date is,” he said Tuesday.

Once completed, the garage will be a three-story, four-level parking structure that will provide about 401 spaces with an additional 90 surface parking spaces around the garage.

Earlier this month, Blane Sellers, project manager with Innovative Construction Management, told the Downtown Parking Advisory Commission that construction of the new garage is on schedule.

“We are in the process of installing 677 rammed aggregate piers for the foundation of the parking garage,” he said Dec. 7. “Footing foundations will begin within the next week. Foundations are expected to be complete the month of January, with precast erection scheduled for later that same month.”