The sidewalks of Centre will soon be getting the facelift they deserve. The city council recently awarded a low bid of $177,084 to Clark and Associates of Glencoe to repair sidewalks in the downtown area.

The city is paying for the cost with Transportation grants known as T-21 funds, formerly known as Iced Tea grants which come to more than $200,000, including a 20 percent match by the city.

Originally, said Centre Mayor Phil Powell, the city wanted to replace the existing sidewalk with brick, especially around the courthouse, but the Alabama Historical Commission deemed the existing concrete sidewalks old enough to be historic.

“We’re starting at the corner of South River Street and Main Street,” said Mayor Powell. “We will go around the corner of South River Street and Main Street and them from Main Street to the Middle School. There’s a place there that we need to repair. Then on the north side we will go from the downtown area to probably Cherokee County Water Authority all the way to Centre Elementary School down to the city park.”

“The sidewalks on South Main Street have really deteriorated and at the corner of South River Street is probably the worst of all,” said Mayor Powell. “We have had people to fall due to the holes in the side walk. At Centre Middle School a large oak tree has pushed up the sidewalk.”

The city should begin making the repairs later this month or early next month