Travelers along U.S. 31 North may experience some delays near Old Castleberry road for the next few months as work begins on turning lanes for the Brewton Middle School.

City School Superintendent Lynn Smith said work could take 60 days as construction of turning lanes in both north and south lanes at Old Castleberry road.

“I would guess we’re talking about 60 days or so to get the work completed,” Smith said. “Depending on weather and other conditions it could be completed in less time than that.

“We have the Christmas holidays in that period and that may slow up the work some,” he added. “But we’re hoping by the end of the year or at least by mid-January that the work will be done.”

The construction ongoing at the intersection will include turning lanes in both north and south lanes, Smith said.

“Going north on (U.S.) 31 the crews will be creating a turn lane just before the intersection of Old Castleberry Road,” Smith said. “Coming south, they will be creating a center turn lane for left turns at the intersection.”

Smith said additional work in the area would include guardrail and earth work to help with traffic issues in the area.

“There will be some earth work in that area to help with visibility issues both north and south,” Smith said. “They will also be doing to some guard rail work for safety.”

Smith said additional work is expected on Old Castleberry Road to continue turn lanes into the actual entrance of the school.

“The work will continue on Old Castleberry Road to keep those turn lanes going right up to the entrance of the school,” smith said. “I’m not sure if the work will be done on that project at the same time the work is being done on (U.S) 31 or after the main project is completed. People just need to be aware that the working along (U.S.) 31 won’t be all that’s going to be done.”

Elsewhere in the city, underground utility work has kept Belleville Avenue closed to traffic for several months. That road closure is expected to last until at least January 2011.

DeWayne King, public works supervisor, said work along Belleville Avenue is moving along, however construction on the project is running behind schedule.

‘The work is a little behind the schedule we had hoped,” King said. “But it is moving along and some areas are opening back up to traffic.”

King said Underwood Street between St. Nicholas Avenue and Douglas Avenue is now open for traffic.

“It’s nice to have that available for folks dropping their children off at school,” King said.

King said construction on the Belleville Avenue project could be completed in January.

Currently the work is moving along Belleville Avenue between Underwood and West Jackson Streets. The work keeping the area closed to through traffic is being done on water, gas and sewer lines as well as storm drains between Woodrow Street and Smith Lane.