Staff Writer

Aug. 26, 2000 10 PM

What many might view as a "big hole" will soon be a convenience to customers at the Troy Post Office.

The post office building at the corner of Brundidge Street and Second Avenue has been undergoing some modifications, Postmaster Cody Ward believes will make things more convenient for customers.

"It’s coming along," Ward said.

While most of the parking lot changes, adding a few more parking spaces, there’s still that "big hole" with which to contend.

Once it’s filled in, that area will be where the mail collection boxes are located with a turnout so drivers can get out of roadway traffic and not have to drive into the parking lot traffic.

"I think it’s going to be a big help," Ward said of what should eliminate traffic congestion in the post office parking lot.

"All those people won’t have to come through the parking lot," Ward said of those who just want to drop something in the mailbox.

Ward estimates about

half of the afternoon traffic is people driving through and stopping at those boxes.

Moving those mailboxes will also give the post office an additional five parking spaces.

After dreaming about changes at the post office, Ward is hoping all the work will be done in a few weeks.

When Ward became postmaster in July 1999, he saw a need for some improvements.

He recognized a problem with parking and those who parked in the overflow lot had a hard time getting back out of the lot.

Now, the brick wall that used to block the public parking from employee parking has come down and the lot has been widened to make parking spaces more accessible.

Funding for the improvements came from the U.S. Postal Service last year, but work was delayed because of plans to purchase property adjacent to the post office.

"The property we really needed wasn’t for sale," Ward said.

So, postal employees decided to go ahead with the improvements.

Ward said he still hopes property can be purchased later so the post office can be expanded to serve the public even better.