Foley officials are moving forward with major improvements to Chicago Street that will connect the city's new library to Heritage Park and other downtown areas. The project will cover Chicago Street from U.S. 98 south to Orange Avenue. City leaders say the work is part of ongoing efforts to beautify the downtown corridor. The city is now accepting bids from contractors for the project.

The improvements are expected to be finished when the new library opens in 2026. The library building will include about 40,000 square feet of space, making it roughly twice the size of the current facility.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the Chicago Street project continues beautification work that includes the Jessamine Street extension and the walkways and gates at Heritage Park. He emphasized the importance of the corridor for the community.

"This corridor on Chicago Street is very important," Hellmich said. "The work at Jessamine Street really improved the east side of that area."

The mayor noted that city officials are also examining improvements for Orange Avenue heading east and Cypress Street. All of these streets are in the same area as the new library.

"We will continue to look at this quadrant right here as our new library is completed," Hellmich said. He added that the corridor improvements will be similar to work done on the north side of the area.

"We hope to start the project and complete it with the library," Hellmich said. "So it will be done when we open the library. This is another streetscape project similar to what we've done in other phases in the past 15 years."

Taylor Davis, the city's deputy city engineer, explained that the project goes beyond simple street improvements. The work will include new walkways for people walking through the area and green spaces with additional trees along the street.

"This project consists of not just a streetscape project, but also a traffic calming project and, overall, being a gateway into the new library," Davis said.

The city plans to install brick pavers and columns that match the improvements already made on Chicago Street at Heritage Park. Foley is partnering with Riviera Utilities to add decorative lighting as part of the new work.

City officials say the improvements will create a welcoming entrance to the library while making the area safer and more attractive for residents and visitors.