The Lisbon Street parking lot, which serves as a popular bypass for traffic from Lisbon and College streets, is receiving a sizeable facelift, one which has likely been seen by many making their way through the heart of the city.

Workers are currently constructing additional curb and gutter, and expanding two existing concrete islands, in the parking lot, which is scheduled for resurfacing as part of the 2009 resurfacing project.

As they were preparing for annual resurfacing, city staff identified a need for the extra curb and gutter to improve traffic flow, as well as the appearance of the lot, according to Jeff Vreugdenhil, director of Clinton-Sampson Planning and Development.

A proposal from Colt Contracting was requested to perform the needed work, and one has since been submitted. The cost to the city is approximately $16,000.

“We would like authorization of up to $20,000, but we don’t anticipate using all those funds,” city manager John Connet said to the City Council in a recent meeting. The money will come from the Community Development Fund, which has been used for endeavors in and around the downtown.

A bid from Barnhill Contracting of $210,810 was approved last month for the annual resurfacing effort. Chris Doherty, director of the city of Clinton’s Public Work and Utilities Department, said the resurfacing would include portions of eight streets, as well as streets within the Clinton Cemetery and “one or two” of the parking lots downtown.

One of those parking lots is the Lisbon Street parking lot, behind Butler’s Pharmacy.

Barricades in the form of yellow tape and orange cones have been put up as construction is being done in the parking lot. In a memo to Vreugdenhil, David A. Byrd, president of Colt Contracting Company, previously stated that work could be completed within 15 days of notice to proceed.

City officials said the impact of the project to others is anticipated to be minimal, while the results could provide a future benefit.

“We feel like it’s a safety and lighting issue that we need to address prior to resurfacing,” said Vreugdendhil. “The lack of green space, lighting and safety, we want to address it so it might last 20 years.”

The replacement of standard street lighting with decorative street lights matching the City Market and the downtown would also be erected as part of the parking lot project. There is no additional cost for the lighting, Vreugdenhil said.

City Councilman Steve Stefanovich called the improvements “needed” and applauded city staff for ensuring problem areas are brought up to the standard that has been set through prior downtown revitalization.

“With everything else (you’ve) done downtown,” it would be wrong not to do it,” Stefanovich told the planning director. “This is a long-time needed project.”

Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.