The Alabama Industrial Access Board has given the city of Troy a reason to be thankful a little early — a $1.6 million reason.

Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford was notified late Thursday the board approved the city’s application to make major renovations to South Brundidge Street.

“Several parts of the street has severe wear and tear,” Lunsford said.

Through the project, Brundidge Street will be renovated from U.S. Highway 231 to Troy City Hall.

From Highway 231 to in front of Pinkard Vault and Marble, Lunsford said the road will simply be improved.

From that business to University Avenue, the streets will be widened to add an extra lane, making a portion of the road a three-lane street.

“This will assist with moving traffic out of the downtown area in the afternoon and into the downtown area in the mornings,” Lunsford said. “It will also directly impact CGI employees.”

An additional traffic light will be installed in front of the Park Lane Shopping Center, where CGI will be located, to assist with the traffic its employees will generate.

“It will allow them and the university’s employees access to South Brundidge Street during peak times,” he said.

The light will only be activated during daytime hours.

The remainder of the project will renovate the street from the Park Lane Shopping Center to Troy City Hall and at the same time, renovate sidewalks.

“We will improve sidewalks where there are problems with sidewalks, and we will be adding sidewalks,” Lunsford said. “It will be a vehicle-friendly and pedestrian-friendly project.”

The city may have to add around $180,000 of its money to fund the project, but Lunsford said he hopes they will be able to decrease costs and only use grant funding.

The final design for the project will be underway in the coming months, and Lunsford said he anticipates the city awarding construction bids in the spring.