GADSDEN– The City of Gadsden has announced a $1.1 million Hoke Street paving project in East Gadsden. The work will cover nearly a mile, from Elmwood Avenue at the railroad tracks to Meighan Boulevard.

City officials expect work to begin before the end of November. The city also says the project has gone through bidding.

Mayor Craig Ford announced the project Thursday, Oct. 1, pointing to his own connection to the neighborhood.

“I am so excited about this paving project,” Ford said. “I grew up in this area, and it has always been a mess. For me, this project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I can’t wait to see it finished.”

Repairs Extend Beyond the Pavement

Along with a new surface, crews will repair the underlying road bed. In addition, crews will repair curbs and gutters along the project area.

However, the announcement does not outline lane closures, detours, or a completion date.

Intersection Improvements Also Planned

Meanwhile, a separate project at Hoke Street and East Broad Street is in the final planning stages, according to the city.

City records also show earlier action on that intersection. A March 24 council resolution authorized $21,550 for traffic-signal modification design at East Broad Street and Hoke Street.

That agreement covers design services, rather than the construction cost of the newly announced paving project.

Building on Earlier Hoke Street Work

The upcoming project also follows improvements to another section of Hoke Street. In 2023, the city paved the eastern stretch from Meighan Boulevard to Goodyear Avenue using Community Development Block Grant funding.