VINTON — Construction began this month on replacing the Horridge Street bridge, and the street overlay project is to begin Monday.

The Town Council accepted bids in May and awarded the work to R.E. Heidt Construction and Guinn Brothers LLC in July after approval from the state.

Guinn Brothers was awarded the contract for the Horridge Street bridge project with its bid of $497,760. Mayor Kenny Stinson said the new bridge will include sidewalks and new pilings.

Stinson said Town Hall has also received several calls about the homecoming parade with the bridge being under construction.

He said the parade will be rerouted, with the tentative idea of having floats line up on Eddy Street from South Street going north, where it will begin and turn onto South Street and then back onto Horridge Street proceeding north.

“We are having a parade, bridge or no bridge,” Stinson said. “The bridge is coming along really well. They’re going to try and get it done in record time.”

R.E. Heidt Construction was awarded the contract — its bid: $359,618 — for the street overlay projects, which are slated to begin Sept. 1.

The projects include the overlaying of Loree Street from Horridge Street to Gum Cove Road; East Street from Nichols to Short Street; and Eddy Street from Mills to Short Street.

Stinson said he wants residents to “understand that progress takes time and a little inconvenience.”

The projects are being funded by a $200,000 state grant and a $442,500 parish grant. Vinton is funding $214,819 of the projects from its street fund.

(American Press Archives)