Jail Project Causes Street Closures

TYLER — Preparation for the Smith County jail expansion project gets underway. According to KETK, the 16-month project is expected to bring road closures and limited parking for nearly a year. According to information from the county, the city of Tyler is barricading one lane of Spring Avenue from Elm Street to Erwin Street, and traffic will flow north only. One lane on Erwin will be blocked from Spring to Fannin, and traffic will flow eastbound only. One lane of Fannin Ave. will be closed from Erwin to Elm, and traffic will flow southbound only. These lane closures will only affect a one block radius around the construction site.

Some business owners are concerned, but at least one admits there’s a price to be paid for progress, “and you learn to live with it.” County Commissioner Jeff Warr says the effect on drivers should be minimal — and the nearly 100 construction workers should bring extra business to downtown restaurants.