Elm Street Road is scheduled to close at 6 p.m. today so work can begin on a much-awaited repair project.

Mike Davis, assistant general manager for Troy Utilities Department, said CBG Construction has approximately 90 working days from the start of the roadwork to complete the work, which consists primarily of adding a bridge culvert to the area of Elm Street Road in front of the old Pines restaurant.

“They’re going to raise the elevation of the road about five feet and put in a bridge,” Davis said. “When it rains, water raises across the road in that area, and it becomes a safety hazard. The road itself needs paving, but it’s more about controlling the water in the stream.”

Davis said elevating the road and inserting the bridge should take care of the flooding problem the area often faces during substantial rains. Davis said the bridge wouldn’t be a large bridge.

“It’s not like a bridge you see when you go to Montgomery,” Davis said. “It’s basically like a regular bridge. It’s not that detailed, and it’s not that high off the ground. You’ll just have enough room to allow the water to go under it making the road passable during the rainy times.”

While CDG’s 100 working days began May 15, Davis said the company has allotted 90 working days for the inserting of the culvert and repaving the road. Should the company not meet deadline, Davis said a financial penalty would take effect.

“They have a 100 days to complete the project, but they should be through in three months or 90 working days,” Davis said. “It’s just all based on the weather. Rain days are not considered working days. If the weather keeps them from doing it they still have 100 working days. If they can’t work on a day and the inspector says it’s a rain day they’ll be given another day. You can’t work in the pouring down rain.”

Elm Street Road will be closed from George Wallace Drive to Barron Road and a detour will be provided. Through traffic will need to take Barron Road, Davis said.

“Those coming West on Elm Street into town will take Barron Road, and they can come in on either Three Notch or on Gibbs Streets. Or, they can come in off of US 231.”

Davis said drivers coming into Troy would need to take Gibbs Street to Butter and Egg Road to Barron Road and then would come back to Elm Street Road.

District 2 Councilman Greg Meeks said he knew the project would take a substantial amount of time to complete.

“I know it’s going to be an inconvenience for the people, but I would just like to ask for the people for their patience,” Meeks said. “In the long run, we’ll have something that we can be proud of, and we won’t have to go through this again. It’s been a long time in the works.”