Festus City Administrator Happy Welch admits the timing wasn't the best. Street repairs on Collins Drive and West Main Street started Thursday, the same day classes began for some 3,000 Festus School District students.
Collins Drive and West Main Street are busy thoroughfares frequently used by students and parents going to and from school a few blocks away.
Welch said the work should be completed by Aug. 24.
Street repairs were supposed to be completed before school started, he said. "But because of the bidding process, it got started later than we hoped."
"The first day of school - it's bad timing of events," Welch said. "But we want to get it done. There was a rough patch we wanted to get fixed."
The city has a $250,000 contract with NB West Contracting in St. Louis to do repairs on seven city streets. Collins and West Main are first on the list. Welch said the other street work, including projects on North Fourth Street and North Fifth Street, will follow. "We have signs up to let motorists know where the projects are being done," Welch said.
While the work is under way, Welch asked motorists to drive carefully.
"And when the work is finished, we can enjoy the smooth ride," he said.
-- Peggy Scott
