The City of Oxford Board of Aldermen discussed the city’s plans for the upcoming game against LSU on Saturday, Sept. 19 and declined a proposal for an 8-month construction project on South Lamar Boulevard at its meeting on Sept. 15. The board also amended its municipal code to include demolition without a permit as a misdemeanor.
The eight-month sidewalk closure would allow workers to install a shoring wall along the empty lot behind Square Books while foundation work is completed near 208 South Lamar Blvd.
Snyder Construction Group proposed to close the sidewalk along South Lamar Boulevard from mid-block between Square Books and the empty lot behind it, to the intersection of Harrison Avenue and South Lamar Boulevard and west toward the West rideshare pickup location. The project would require a pedestrian detour across the street beside Village Tailor.
The proposal called to close the sidewalk along South Lamar Boulevard and establish a pedestrian detour across the street beside Village Tailor. The site blocked off would stretch from the Harrison Avenue alley from its intersection with South Lamar west toward the Regions Bank building and include the site of the West rideshare pickup. The purpose of the foundation wall is to protect the street and the workers.
“Pedestrian traffic will be detoured to the existing sidewalk on the opposite (east) side of South Lamar Boulevard for the full length of the closure,” the request from city engineer John Crawley to Mayor of Oxford Robyn Tannehill said.
Some board members felt that the construction project was not worth the inconvenience that it would cause. Ward II alderman Mark Huelse said the duration of the project and lack of access for emergency vehicles are “two total deal-breakers.”
Ward VI alderman Jason Bailey opposed the sidewalk closure and the pedestrian detours for the construction project.
“I know it’s a difficult build, but there’s got to be some creative ways to avoid closing off the area as proposed,” Bailey said.
There was no motion made on the Snyder Construction Group request, meaning the proposal will not move forward without a revised plan.
Tannehill announced that all lanes across Highway 6 East near Campground Road will be open for this weekend’s game, despite usual closure for construction, due to the anticipated influx of traffic.
“I did talk to the executive director of (the Mississippi Department of Transportation) this morning and told him that I felt like we were basically going to have an ice storm this weekend — not really, but kind of — and that we need those lanes open,” Tannehill said.
Tannehill said law enforcement are preparing for large crowds and considering public safety, trash collection and street cleaning prior to the LSU game.
“We have covered it from every angle, from water and sewer to public safety and trash pick-up, numerous times during the day every day this weekend,” Tannehill said.
Tannehill is not worried about the university and Oxford’s ability to tackle the traffic and crowds that will come with the LSU game.
“I’m a little tickled at some of the questions I’ve gotten from the media, like, ‘What are y’all going to do for the LSU game?’” Tannehill said. “We’ve had a few football games here. They’re acting like we’ve just never done this before.”
The board also approved an amendment to Chapter 22 (Building) of Oxford’s Municipal Code of Ordinances, which calls to include demolition without a permit as a misdemeanor.
Persons convicted of the misdemeanor would be ordered to pay a fine no less than $500 but no more $1,000.
