Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

jadgal elementary school by daaz office

daaz office has completed an elementary school with a circular arrangement for seyed-bar village in iran. the project was commissioned by iran-e man, an NGO that constructs schools in disadvantaged areas of the country. the new single-story building is composed of seven volumes arrayed around a large central courtyard. the design also features a round periphery wall with random openings for children and villagers to enter and inhabit.

images by deed studio

the first step of the project was to carry out architectural and social studies in the village and the region. in a participatory way, the needs, shortcomings, potentials, and capacities of the village and indigenous peoples were identified, themed, and prioritized.

as a result of the initial research, the team planned the building not just as a school, but also as a community center; a place of education for children and a point of gathering and learning for everybody in the village. at present, the school also functions as a childrens play area, a place to watch movies and play football, a library, and a tourist residence.

the program covers a built area of 480 sqm and it includes four elementary classes, each of which can be connected to another classroom to generate a larger space and optimize limited personnel. theres also a library, a multifunctional hall that serves as a conference room, a workshop-cum-exam hall, and outdoor spaces for play.

the circular form of the architecture forms part of the learning together concepta democratic style void of hierarchical systems. the rotation of the class layout while connecting them at the corners allows for air circulation between the rooms and generates small secondary yards for group work or outdoor activities. this spatial diagram also creates the central courtyard in the middle of the school and a circular space around the classes.

a boundary wall is traditionally understood as a protector, a separator and generally stands as a masonry-built guarding device. in this project, however, the school boasts a unique location in the middle of a vast and relatively flat plain. the school wall was therefore treated as an inviting playful shell. openings within the wall are arranged so that people seated in class can see out across the plain. these openings of different sizes and shapes also provide students with various entrances into the school.

by increasing the thickness of this continuous yet porous wall, some essential functions of the building such as a tuck shop, a school guards room, and a storeroom were housed while the main entrance was emphasized, gaining depth and inviting people inside.

in designing this school, daaz office envisioned education as a dialectic, bilateral, participatory driven concept and accordingly, the conventional school spaces that act as platforms of these ideas were transformed in this manner: transforming the school wall from separator to a shell structure that performs as a playful skin, inviting people to gather and encouraging community culture while reinforcing communication between people. this transformation was performed in order to destroy hierarchy and strengthen culture, shining a light on the most basic meaning of going to school, which is being together.

the team opted for a participation-based method of construction that would promote sustainable development and generate social, economic, and cultural infrastructures. the villagers helped realize the project by working as site laborers whilefamilies contributed financially by selling needlework. this way, the school was built by local participation and gained the goodwill of everyone in the village.

the school is managed and maintained by a team of villagers and teachers, and part of the income from tourism and needlework is spent on its maintenance. a needlework workshop and an instagram page called @banook has been set up to empower women of the village and engage them in social and economic activities.

in alliance with the school renovation codes by the legislative institution and control of school construction in iran and the necessity of building earthquake-resistant structures, the schools structure was constructed with the ICF method, insulating concrete formwork. by utilizing polystyrene panels (EPS), galvanized iron profiles, and reinforced concrete, the structure was constructed without any columns- thanks to the designs curvilinear forms.

the final coating layer that was applied is a semi-local material consisting of cement and local soil called simgel that prevents rusting due to floods and excessive rain and creates harmony with the surrounding colors and textures. and in case of destruction or cracking, it can be easily repaired by the villagers.

we aimed to create a school that is a nest for nurturing creativity, freedom and critical thinking, says daaz office. the project started with an effort to change the villagers intellectual and social layers, empower rural women, create public participation, and turn it into a lever in building a school.

finally, by challenging the political and social concept of the boundary (the wall) between free will and coercion in the presence of the school in a society traditionally dominated by tyranny it was able to overwhelm the mental majority of most villagers who initially opposed the construction of the wall and make the school the center of the neighborhood and gathering of all residents. an exercise to influence architecture in the transition to democracy.

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daaz office wraps a 'playful shell' around this school in rural iran - Designboom

ExploreCensus data shows area communities diversifying

The countys sewer system uses several screens to filter out larger matter. The water then undergoes chemical treatment at the Moraine facility and is tested before it is released back into the rivers.

Montgomery County has approximately 30,000 sewer connections that flow to the West Carrollton plant the majority of which are funneled through the Dryden Road facility, Hilliard said.

While individual pieces of equipment have been replaced or rebuilt, a significant portion of the equipment is original, he said. Due to the corrosive nature of sewage, equipment life expectancy can vary from as little as 15 years to 25 years depending on the specific equipment and its application, Hilliard said.

There has never been a complete facility shutdown or untreated sewage releases, he said.

We havent had a failure, he said. If we ever had a failure, if any of that infrastructure ever failed, its critical because two things are going to happen. Either were going to have a problem where the wastewater is going to go right into the river or it would cause backups in the system, so peoples homes, especially the ones with basements, we could have some backups.

While nothing at the Dryden Road facility is considered malfunctioning, parts of the building feature aging equipment that is more costly to upgrade and maintain than to replace it altogether, Hilliard said.

The building itself requires repairs, such as a new roof, new windows, HVAC upgrades, drywall replacement, electrical upgrades, etcetera, that require money to be spent on an already-aged building, he said. MCES performed a cost study on this property, and it was determined that moving our lab to downtown would be a better use of taxpayer dollars.

The project will mean Montgomery County abandoning the four-stories-deep Dryden Road facility, but some of the office space on the first floor may be repurposed, he said. The laboratory there will move to downtown Dayton, Hilliard said.

Carrying out pre-treatment at the West Carrollton plant instead of the Dryden Road facility eliminates the cost of round-the-clock staffing and some of the maintenance costs, he said. Upgrading the countys aging pumps protects the system as a whole.

Like every other county in America, we deal with aging infrastructure, Spokeswoman Megan OLeary said. In order to continue having reliable services for our residents, we need to make sure that this is not going to fail.

Montgomery County commissioners on Tuesday approved a contract with Miami Twp.-based Ulliman Schutte Construction for design and construction of the project, which is expected to wrap up in 2024.

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Construction of $65M sewer project aimed at ensuring continued water safety - Dayton Daily News

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - The Assembly Public Works and Facilities Committee was updated on the four alternatives for a new City Hall during its meeting over the Noon hour Monday.

Engineering and Public Works Director Katie Koester provided the update and started with the option calling for renovation of the current facility. She said that option would require $11.1 Million in investments that are needed to renovate the facility.

She said of the option that calls for constructing a new city hall atop the Transit Center at Main and Egan. Koester called this one of the more affordable options in the $30 Million range. "Because the foundation work has already been done, that option is attractive." On the negative side, she said is that it would displace some existing parking. but she added that parking could be added.

Another construction site is on Whittier Street where the former State Public Safety Department Building once was. Koester said it really grows a section of downtown as kind of a cultural and civic center. She mentions that Centennial Hall and the State Museum are nearby.

On the negative side is this area would be a good location for affordable housing which is a top Assembly goal and developing office space would take away from that potential need. In addition, it is not in the downtown core.

Then there's the former Kmart and Walmart Building. She talked about the pros and cons, starting with the pros, by saying there's a lot of room there which is located centrally to all the constituents, and parking would never be an issue. But the building has been vacant for some time and the land is not for sale currently so there would be a lease associated with it. In addition, Koester said it would displace an opportunity for a large retail development. She said it is probably one of the only good spots for large retails left in Juneau. It's also twice the size city hall would need.

The next step comes with Wednesday evening's public meeting and then following that meeting. Koester said she will report back to the committee on the public meeting during its February 14 meeting. At that time, she said the committee will ask to prioritize the top two sites. At that point, staff will develop an economic analysis of the two sites. Then the Assembly will be asked to select a preferred alternative. At that point, a potential bond package could be developed for voters to consider in the local election come October.

The city hall public forum gets underway at 6 p.m. Wednesday via Zoom.

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Assembly committee briefed on City Hall options - kinyradio.com

Lendleases Tony Lombardo and a rendering of 3401 South La Cienega Boulevard (Lendlease, Shop Architects and RELM)

Australia-based Lendlease is moving ahead on its $600 million mixed-use project in West Adams with a new environmental report by Los Angeles planners.

The real estate and construction giant has been issued a sustainable communities environmental assessment by the Los Angeles Department of City Planning for its 461,000-square-foot project at 3401 South La Cienega Blvd., according to Urbanize L.A.

The proposed development, financed by Australian pension fund Aware Super, would remake a 3.5-acre storage facility next to Metros La Cienega/Jefferson Station.

Lendlease paid $92 million for the site with plans to build 260 residential units, 227,000 square feet of offices and 2,869 square feet of ground-floor shops and restaurants. An underground garage would accomodate 785 vehicles.

Construction would begin in early 2023 and be completed by 2025, according to the environmental report.

The Lendlease project, designed by ShoP Architects based in New York, would feature a 13-story residential tower and a six-story office building, with upper-level setbacks to create terrace decks. The office building would include mass timber in its design.

The buildings would share a 32,000 square-foot plaza, designed by Downtown-based RELM, that would open onto a bike path near the Metro Station.

The project would get a zoning variance to build a larger residential building in exchange for 22 affordable apartments for low-income households and seven units reserved as workforce housing.

Lendlease and Aware Super are partners on a number of major development projects across the country, including at 1 Java Street in Brooklyns Greenpoint neighborhood.

West Adams is home to many large-scale new projects, including Carmel Partners 1,200-unit residential complex known as Cumulus, S.D. Abrahams 254-unit residential project, and a 168-unit mixed-use complex by CIM Group.

[Urbanize LA] Dana Bartholomew

Contact Dana Bartholomew

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Lendlease on the move in West Adams - The Real Deal

Bond issue projects on the April 5 ballot in Boone County school districts range from sports stadium repair andrestroom remodelstoclassroom additions and kitchen remodels.

Outside of Columbia, the costs range from $3 million in the Southern Boone and Harrisburg school districts to $10 million in Centralia. Between those is a $6 million bond issue in the Hallsville School District.

A feature all have in common is that approval won't result in a tax increase for residents. All require a 57%majority for approval.

They join Columbia Public Schools, which has placed an $80 million bond issue on the April 5 ballot. Those plans include two new elementary schools and renovations of the Columbia Area Career Center. It also won't require a tax increase if voters approve it.

The Sturgeon School District is alone in the county in not having a school bond issue on the April ballot.

The $10 million bond issue in the Centralia School District aims at catching up in areas where maintenance has been put off, said Superintendent Steven Chancellor.

"Age has caught up to us and it's caught up in a big way," Chancellor said. "Before we start thinking about new stuff, we need to start thinking about things we already have."

Projects include security improvements at building entrances, he said.

Plans call for remodeling the restrooms at the high school, which Chancellor said are in bad shape.

"That has been a dark cloud over our heads," he said of thehigh school restrooms.

A new item among the plans is science classrooms along a hall that will extend from the high school to the agriculture building.

"The theme of the bond issue is 'investing in ourselves,'" Chancellor said.

He said he's optimistic about victory on election night, but not taking the community for granted.

"We have a lot of momentum," Chancellor said. "We've been able to weather the COVID storm with minimal intrusion. The community is fully aware that our facilities are not up to par."

Projects included in the $6 million bond issue in the Hallsville School Districtwould be supplemented with reserve funds available in the district's capital projects fund, said Superintendent John Downs.

A new wing with eight classrooms is plannedat the middle school building, where the district's information technology department also would be located.

If approved, it would be the first phase of eventual replacement of the building, Downs said.

"The middle school building was built in 1952," Downs said. "Itwas built for elementary students, and classrooms are too small for middle school students. We're planning on a phased replacement."

The athletic track wouldbe relocated to the sports stadium, with additional improvements to the stadium, Downs said. The track is now at a different location than the stadium.

Other improvements will be made if funding allows, he said.

The district has been engaging the community about plans since last spring, Downs said. Public forums were held in late summer.

"I'm very optimistic," Downs said.

Hallsville voters in 2017 approved an 80-cent tax levy increase for the district, the first in 30 years. It marked a turning point for the district, Downs said.

"Our community has been very supportive," Downs said.

A 2,000-square-foot addition to the computer lab and media center at the elementary building is part of the plan for the $3 million bond issue in the Harrisburg School District, said Superintendent Steve Combs.

Also among the projects are remodeling restrooms at the middle school and a parking lot at the high school. The kitchens at the elementary school and high school also would be remodeled as part of the plan.

Depending on available funds, a K-12 theater and performing arts center or a multipurpose addition, or both, would be included, Combs said.

"We've had great luck passing no-tax-increase bond issues," Combs said.

The $3 million bond issue in the Southern Boone School District in Ashland would be directed toward major repairs at the track and field at its stadium.

The school board on Friday approved placing the bond issue on the April ballot.

Projects include resurfacing the track, installing new artificial turf and replacing the scoreboard and sound system at the high school outdoor athletic complex.

Before the vote, head high school football coach Trent Tracy discussed the need.

He said additions to the schools that have been approved in past bond issues were more important and more needed at the time, but it's the turn of athletics now.

"The time has come to address our athletic needs," Tracy said.

The football and soccer field looks great at the beginning of August, but not by the end of September, he said.

Wet weather really creates problems on the fields, he said.

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These are the school bond issues on the ballot in Boone County for the April election - Columbia Daily Tribune

Wayback Burgers,Americas favorite hometown burger joint and one of the nations fastest-growing burger franchises, is excited to report that 2021 saw record positive gains. As businesses bounce back from the aftermath of the pandemic, the companys projected expansion and innovation led to strong growth including a systemwide sales increase of 26.2% and a comparable store sales increase of 24.19%.

In the last 12 months, Wayback Burgers awarded 124 new franchise agreements worldwide and awarded the master franchise for Japan, as well as oversaw 13 remodels and opened 18 new locations. Wayback Burgers also partnered with Reef Kitchens to operate 25 ghost kitchen locations within major cities throughout the U.S. All these transactions contributed to the companys overall success, and it is looking to maintain this positive trajectory in 2022.

In addition to sales and expansion, Wayback Burgers enjoyed continued success with the companys philanthropic efforts through its national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, whose mission is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Since the partnerships launch in June 2018, Wayback Burgers has raised around $650,000 for the non-profit organization through a variety of national fundraising events and initiatives. Wayback Burgers also awarded a $10,000 prize to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee in Nashville through a nationwide contest with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to name an outstanding staff member that went above and beyond.

We are very proud of the Wayback Burgers brand for having a successful 2021, stated Patrick Conlin, President of Wayback Burgers. We cant thank our franchisees and guests enough for supporting the brand this past year. There was great enthusiasm, dedication, hard work and execution day in and day out by our franchisees and their teams that resulted in a record year for Wayback Burgers, despite challenges in the supply chain and labor. As we begin 2022, Wayback Burgers is well positioned for even greater success.

Sales growth was bolstered by popular seasonal limited time only (LTO) menu items, such as the Impossible Melt, Fiery Bacon Burger, Bourbon Bacon Burger, Guac Burger, Brownie Milkshake, Pumpkin Caramel Milkshake, Tangerine Milkshake & Tangerine Lemonade and Chocolate Cake Shake.

This year, Wayback Burgers is optimistic about strong sales at its restaurant locations, the roll out of exciting new LTO items, as well as 15 to 20 restaurant openings across the U.S. and more international openings including Japans first Wayback Burgers, opening in February 2022.

For more information on Wayback Burgers, please visitWaybackBurgers.com, or visit our social pages onFacebook,TwitterorInstagram. For more information about the Wayback Burgers franchise opportunity, visitWaybackBurgers.com/Franchising/.

ABOUT WAYBACK BURGERS

Founded in 1991 in Newark, Delaware,Wayback Burgersis a Connecticut-based fast-casual franchise with a reputation for cooked to order burgers and thick, hand-dipped milkshakes, served in an environment that hearkens back to a simpler place and time when customer service meant something and everyone felt the warmth of the community. Wayback Burgers currently operates in3234states with over 166 locations nationally and internationally in Brunei, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Pakistan, The Netherlands and Manitoba, Canada and Ireland. Through its executed international franchise agreements, Wayback Burgers plans to open in 38 provinces/countries, including the Middle East, Northern Africa, South Africa, Bangladesh, Ireland, Japan, Germany and in Canada, Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

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Wayback Burger reflects on record brand growth at the end of 2021 - Nation's Restaurant News

Photo credit: Sam Frost Photography

"It was what I call a Frank Lloyd Wrong," says designer Carolyn Miller of her latest project, a 1930s Pacific Palisades farmhouse that had fallen victim to a series of bad renovations in the 30 years since its owners moved in. Once quaint and charming, the home had devolved into a fragmented maze as the owners attempted to personalize it. "A lot of the house felt disjointed," says Miller. "The ceilings had different elevations and the stairwell was this awkward space that bisected the house," she recalls. "Everything had its own idea."

The clients, who are longtime friends of Miller's, were just about ready to sell the house and start over. "They were hesitant to put good work on top of bad work," explains Miller. But after some gentle convincing, the couple finally agreed to one last renovation. "They wanted to bring the house into its best possible state. And they trusted me to do it."

Getting it right meant embracing the home's original craftsmanship and removing remnants of past remodels to achieve the practical, yet elegant aesthetic the clients had been seeking all along. "We always wanted to keep the charm," says Miller. "But there were multiple areas that just didn't communicate with each other. So opening all of that up and making it all useful was their main goal.

To do that, Miller sought symmetry between preservation and renovation. "The goal was to maintain some of the farm, cottage feel with authentic, natural finishes while giving the client modern conveniences, an expanded footprint, and a more sophisticated, forward palette," says the designer.

Structural changeslike releveling the ceilings and refiguring the kitchen layoutoffer the sort of continuous flow that had been missing from the initial floorplan, while adding materials original to the home recall its history. To balance olfd and new, industrial materialslike steel doors and beamsare juxtaposed with a teeming collection of art and antiques. "We did a few really special touches. But I don't consider them luxurious. I consider them going back to the original craftsmanship," says Miller.

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Tour the home below.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Carolyn Miller Design

"The dining room is really the lifeblood of the house," says Miller. Situated next to an outdoor hangout, the space room serves as a de facto main entrance. "It has the most access to the indoors and outdoors," explains Miller. "And, you know, it's where the doggy door is," she laughs. "It was also one of the main areas where we cleaned everything up," says Miller, referring to the ceilings. "We wanted everything to be at just one height."

The focal point of the room is an oversized painting by Swedish artist Andreas Erickson. "I used that painting as the foundational piece for this space," explains Miller. "I played off the colors, so there are little touches of red and green. And all of the warm tones in the painting are reflected in the oak furniture."

Dining Table: Custom. Dining Chairs: Harbour. Light Fixture: Muselli.

Photo credit: Sam Frost Photography

"The goal for this space was to have a sort of a palette cleanser when you enter in the house," says Miller. The restrained background serves as the perfect canvas for the clients' art collection, which "always felt like such a hodgepodge" against the old scheme.

Mantel: Francois & Co. Art: Rebecca Ward, Mckenzie Dove. Cocktail Table: Lawson Fenning. Coffee Table: Angelo Ostuni. Lamp: Vintage, Arthur Umanoff. Sconces: Allied Maker.

The bulk of the structural work is reflected in the kitchen, which needed a higher ceiling and a new layout. "It took the most amount of time," Miller says of the process, which included leveling the backyard and installing new structural beams that support the new kitchen as well as the rest of the house.

"The goal was to reorient the kitchen to be as open and as communicative with the dining room as possible," says Miller. Several windows were removed to fit a wall of appliances behind a larger, outward-facing island that houses the sink. "We reoriented the sink to be in the island so that it would be perfectly lined up with the opening towards the dining area," explains the designer. "Before, the faucet was where the oven is now, so she was just staring at a wall," Miller explains.

With the kitchen more open, it was important to Miller that clutter be tucked away. "I wanted it to be really easy for them," she says of her decision to add a hidden appliance garage. "Yes, they like it to be elegant. But in their day-to-day life, they don't want anything to be complicated."

Range: Fisher Pykell. Dishwasher: Miele. Light Fixtures: Early Electrics. Hardware: Rocky Mountain Hardware. Stools: Ethnicraft. Artwork: Jonas Wood, Grace Weaver.

Photo credit: Sam Frost Photography

"This was another hodgepodge room where there wasn't really a proper entry hallway," says Miller. To create a distinction between the front door and the adjacent den, she installed a steel interior window to visually separate either space. "It looks like it was always meant to be this way," the designer says.

Photo credit: Sam Frost Photography

"The major thing that we did was refinish the ceilings," says Miller. "It had been a dark, over-stained pine. So we basically bleached it and then whitewashed it with custom glazing to give it this beautiful, warm tone." The designer removed wall-to-wall carpeting and replaced it with red oak flooring to match the rest of the home (and recall a look that matched the home's original era). "I wanted to unify the house with just one floor," emphasizes the designer.

Rug: Armadillo. Bed: Maiden Home. Sconces: RBW. Wall Paint: Benjamin Moore, Decorators White. Trim Paint: Portola, Stone.

"We always wanted to keep the farmhouse aspect," says Miller, who replaced kitschier red siding with white board and batten for a more refreshed look. "Even though the Sonoma farmhouse look is so ubiquitous now, it was actually appropriate for this home. We weren't forcing it, you know, it was always a barn."

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See The Renovation That Convinced This Couple Not To Sell Their Home of 30 Years - Yahoo Lifestyle

World of Asphalt is bringing back the Women of Asphalt Roundtable, a regular favorite roundtable discussion, when it returns in-person to the Nashville Music City Center March 29 to 31, 2022.

Part of the People, Plants and Paving Conference organized by World of Asphalt and the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), Women of Asphalt brings six women together for a lively discussion to include the audience.

"Women of Asphalt is both a great organization, as well as a great roundtable discussion, for everyone involved in the asphalt pavement industry," said World of Asphalt Show Manager Brittany Weltcheff.

"Too many people think this industry is mostly men, but women are finding many great opportunities to work in the industry and connect through this organization, which is critical for giving everyone a voice."

One of 120 education sessions available to asphalt paving professionals, the Women of Asphalt Roundtable is part of a group of education sessions geared toward helping the industry find and retain the talent it needs to keep North America's highways and byways moving.

"The Women of Asphalt Roundtable is a session everyone at World of Asphalt can learn something new and benefit from," said Audrey Copeland, president and CEO of NAPA, majority-owner of the show and a founding member of Women of Asphalt, currently serving as secretary of the organization's board.

"With a discussion focused on diversity and inclusion, attendees will gain insight into ways to attract and retain diverse employees."

Women of Asphalt have been representing the growing number of women leading and entering the asphalt paving industry since 2017, with founding members from NAPA, the Asphalt Pavement Alliance, the Asphalt Institute and multiple asphalt paving product makers.

World of Asphalt will bring the asphalt paving community back together in person at the Music City Center in Nashville, Tenn. For a look at the health and safety commitment, including the latest updates, click here. Registration is 15 percent off through Feb. 26.

For more information on World of Asphalt, visit http://www.WorldOfAsphalt.com.

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Women of Asphalt Return to In-Person World of Asphalt in Nashville : CEG - Construction Equipment Guide

ROBERTSON CO., Tenn. The Tennessee Department of Transportation is conducting a single-lane closure in the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 65 for emergency milling and paving.

The interstate was narrowed to one lane Sunday from mile marker 111 to mile marker 118 in each direction. The closures will remain in place through the morning rush hour until the work is complete in the coming days.

Recent back-to-back winter storms and high traffic volumes have caused large potholes to form within the 9-mile widening project on I-65. The asphalt pavement continues to deteriorate creating unsafe driving conditions and causing property damage.

The closure will shorten as the road is repaired. Crews are currently working in the northbound lane, which is expected to reopen first. Work will then move to the southbound lane.Motorists are advised to plan for extra travel time, and slow down while in a work zone.

From your desktop or mobile device, get the latest construction activity and live streaming SmartWay traffic cameras at http://www.TNSmartWay.com/Traffic. Travelers can also dial 511 from any land-line or cellular phone for travel information.

As always, drivers are reminded to use all motorist information tools wisely and Know Before You Go! by checking travel conditions before leaving for your destination. Drivers should never tweet, text or talk on a cell phone while behind the wheel.

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I-65 in Robertson Co. Narrowed to One Lane in Both Directions for Emergency Paving - tn.gov

The Etowah County Mega Sports Complex Authority moved a step closer to getting back to work on the soccer complex located in Rainbow City with the awarding of a bid for paving work at the site.

The authority on Friday awarded a bid for paving work after pulling that task out of its project bid to handle separately. Chairman Ralph Burke said as originally bid, the parking area at the complex would have been crush and run gravel.

Authority members did not want a gravel parking lot, and decided to bid that project separately. Burke said the low bid was $312,000 for asphalt, with some grading work included, and $10,000 for striping the parking lot. He said contractor Milam & Company had a bid of $355,000 for the work, so this bid will means savings for the authority.

After a complicated fall, the authority completed a bond issue delayed by legal action Treasurer Hugh Miller said, and has paid money owed to contractors and other money borrowed.

To date, the authority has paid Milam & Company $4,953,189 for work completed,$926,868 to Chambless King Architects and $91,641 to other engineers.

As to the larger question of when the soccer field will be ready for play, Burke said they can't project that just now. Getting sod down is a key, he said, and allowing time for it to set up a good root system.

GameDay, the company that will install the sod, is working on a project now at Westbrook, he said, and says the Etowah County complex is their next job. He said there is some "tidying up" to be done, and fixtures in storage to be brought to the complex's concession stand building.

There is paving work to be completed, Burke said, and contractors have been told if there are any plants or trees with "life in their roots," to plant them. Some are in place, he said; he was not sure about whether they would survive.

Burke said the authority is looking at whether to hire a complex director who would handle hiring and management of the facility, or a management company to run it.

A committee is looking at what other facilities have done and may consult with representatives about their experiences. Burke said Oxford's sports complex has its own employees; the Sand Mountain Park and Amphitheater has a management company.

Some members of the authority questioned how much of the authority's legal fees were the result of legal actions brought by Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, and joined by Etowah County Tourismthat held up the bond issue and the resumption of work on the complex.

Miller said he didn't have those expenses tabulated separate from other legal costs.

He said the legal action had cost "four months playing time" when the complex would have generated revenue.

Rep. Gil Isbell, R-Gadsden, attended the meeting, along with authority members Randy Vice, RogerBoatner, Craig Ford, Trina Willett, Burke and Miller.

Isbell said he appreciated the work done to resolve the legal issues.

Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com.

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Etowah Mega Sports Authority waiting for work to resume; play date still up in the air - Gadsden Times