An artist’s depiction of the Oakhurst streetscape project. Source: Decaturga.com

Work on the long-awaited Oakhurst Streetscape project could begin soon, Assistant City Manager Hugh Saxon says.

Bids for the project, which has a $2.5 million budget, were turned in this month. Planning for it began more than seven years ago, and the project’s federal funding has been the primary reason for the holdup.

Saxon said Oakhurst residents and business owners could see dirt moving starting in October. He said the project should take between nine and 12 months to complete.

“We’ve got bids they’ve got to go to the Department of Transportation for review,” Saxon said.

Saxon said he’s “really excited” to see the project get underway.

When completed, the project will transform the heart of Oakhurst at the intersections of Oakview Road, East Lake Drive, West Hill Street and West Benson Street. There will be new sidewalks, lighting and trees along these roads, Saxon said. The project will also increase the size of Oakhurst’s Harmony Park. Off-street parking on the park’s south side will be replaced with a pedestrian plaza. There will be parking provided by angle spaces on East Lake Drive in front of Oakhurst Market and One Step at a Time Shoe store.

Saxon said the city has been meeting with residents and businesses to inform them about the progress of the streetscape work.

“I personally invited delivered an invitation to every business in Oakhurst village inviting them to a meeting where we could discuss what we were planning to do,” he said.

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