Oxford’s continuing population and construction growth has become an old topic of discussion among writers, townsfolk and newcomers alike.
The community has been growing for awhile now, but the necessary increase in construction is just ramping up.
Construction work on two new hotels anchors the outer parameters of the Square, and the city and university continue work on roads and buildings, respectively. Now that spring has arrived, projects are moving right along.
Construction of the Chancellor’s House Hotel will begin soon, at the site of the former Checker’s building, at the Four Corners intersection downtown, at University Avenue and South Lamar Boulevard. The boutique hotel will have a full kitchen that provides room service, breakfast and formal teas every day.
The recently demolished Downtown Oxford Inn will soon be replaced with a new hotel in fall 2014.
Workers are leveling up ground at Coulter Hall, where the university is construction an addition.
The addition at Coulter Hall is in the foundation stages, and isn’t easily visible to students and passersby because of the green fencing that surrounds the project.
Two new roundabouts will be located at the intersection of Old Taylor Road and state Highway 6. The state Department of Transportation will also widen the Old Taylor Road Bridge to four lanes and create an eight-foot pedestrian sidewalk that’s protected.
In a press release, MDOT said the construction will continue through November 2014.
A traffic study on the South Lamar Boulevard roundabouts found that average vehicle speeds increased by 67 percent, and crashes decreased by 37.5 percent. Similar needs led to the Old Taylor Road roundabouts, according to the MDOT press release.
Photo Essay by
Gretchen Stone, HottyToddy.com associate editor. Gretchen can be contacted about this story at Gretchen.Stone@HottyToddy.com.
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