SPANISH FORT — After several months of construction and efforts going back more than a year, work to complete repairs on Eastern Shore Boulevard should be completed next month.

Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan told city council members at a Jan. 3 work session that the contractor and engineer told city officials the project is near completion.

"They did give me an aggressive time schedule to complete the project, which is according to someone I spoke to today (Jan. 3)," McMillan said. "They are planning on completing the Eastern Shore Boulevard project by the end of February."

The project calls for roads at the Eastern Shore Center to be repaired and repaved.

McMillan said the contract called for the project to be done in 200 working days, which does not include weekends, holidays, weather interruptions and other delays. He said the timetable began when the contract was signed at the end of May.

As of Dec. 20, work had been going on for 93 contract days.

Councilman Carl Gustafson said residents have questioned the length of time needed to complete the project.

"I think people feel like they've been seeing for months that nothing's been going on and it's beautiful sunshine outside," Gustafson said. "I think that's what we're all getting hit with."

David Conner, city attorney, said one other delay has been determining the owner of the right of way on the road in front of the Publix supermarket.

"We thought that the property was owned by Allied Development," Conner said. "We conducted the title search and determined that it's actually owned by Eastern Shore Center I LLC. The original developers somehow still held title to that."

Conner said city officials have met with the owners and hope to have access to the easement soon.

The roads at the center are part of the mall and are not maintained by the city. The council voted in 2021 to pay for the project using money from a 1% license fee charged at the center. The license fee can be used for public improvements at the site, Conner said in an earlier statement.

He said the streets will continue to be owned and maintained by the Eastern Shore Center.

McMillan said the project is expected to cost $3.9 million.