City Begins Infrastructure Phase
City officials report early infrastructure work is underway along U.S. Highway 6 as Albany continues preparations for a major residential development project.
Motorists and residents of that area may have noticed increased activity in recent days as contractors began installing water and sewer infrastructure for the subdivision. The project has been in the planning and bidding phase for a couple of years, with engineers overseeing the process.
City Manager Billy Holson said the city received multiple bids for laying the water and sewer lines, with Finco Construction, owned by Jeremy Finley, ultimately awarded the contract. Holson noted the company is expected to relocate its base here to Shackelford County, as Finley is building a home on County Road 122.
The combined bid for water and sewer work totaled about $915,000, including $375,000 for water infrastructure and $540,000 for sewer improvements. Holson said the city reduced those overall costs by providing materials for portions of the project.
Initial work included both water and sewer installation simultaneously to accommodate necessary highway bores under U.S. 6. Holson said that approach was chosen for efficiency and cost savings.
Finco crews are now focusing on water line installation before transitioning to sewer work, with completion of that phase expected by the end of July. After utilities are in place, the city plans to begin work on retention ponds and dirt work, which will be completed through a combination of city crews and contracted services.
The overall development timeline remains fluid, and officials have not yet set pricing for residential lots. However, Holson said the goal is to complete infrastructure by the end of the year and begin selling lots soon after. The subdivision is expected to include about 45 residential lots.
The layout will feature three long streets and one shorter street, with only two access points from the highway. Streets will initially be constructed as gravel surfaces. Holson said that decision was made because heavy construction traffic would tear up pavement. He added that asphalt paving remains part of the long-term plan for the development once home construction is substantially complete.
Holson also said the project was originally planned with long-term school growth in mind. With the passage of the recent school bond, he said expected school development in the area is occurring even sooner than anticipated, strengthening the need for expanded utility access. He added the new sewer system will allow the development to tie directly into infrastructure serving the future campus, rather than relying on an older lift station that has experienced recurring issues.
