Center Street is now wide enough for a center line.

City and county officials celebrated the official grand openingof the new and improved Center Street Tuesday during aribbon-cutting ceremony near the intersection of Industrial ParkRoad.

The project was sorely needed, officials said.

“Center Street was very narrow – too narrow for two cars to passeach other,” said Ward 6 Alderman John “Buddy” Allen.

In addition, several officials commented on the poor shape ofthe road. The improvement project, which was a joint effort by thecity and county, both repaved and widened the road.

Mayor Bob Massengill said the project should improve trafficflow in the area by providing residents with another reliableaccess to the downtown area. Most of the traffic to and fromdowntown for that area was limited to North Jackson Street becauseof Center Street’s condition, he said.

Ward One Aldermen Dorsey Cameron, who was instrumental inpushing for the project to be done, was unable to attend Tuesday’sceremony due to commitment out of town.

The Center Street work was funded with leftover federal fundingfrom the 1998 Industrial Park Road Overpass project. Approximately$1.5 million was provided for that project, but it was completedfor less than the expected cost.

Leftover funding from that project also paid for the IndustrialPark Road turn lane onto Manufacturer’s Boulevard, traffic signalsat the Jackson Street intersection and a few other minorimprovements.