Franklinton Mayor Wayne Fleming reports that the town’s repaving project is progressing along at a quicker-than-expected pace and is about halfway finished.

Of the 19 miles of road slated for resurfacing, about nine have been completed since work began the second week of July, Fleming said.

Crews are currently working in a two-step process, Fleming said. One group will remove the old road surface — working four to six streets in advance — and then a blacktopping crew will follow, he said.

Work on the streets in the downtown area is expected to begin in roughly a week, Fleming said.

The work is being performed by contractor Barriere Construction.

“We’re very satisfied,” Fleming said. “Barriere’s doing an excellent job.”

As the 120-day project is “running ahead of schedule,” Fleming anticipates that the work will wrap up within 30 to 40 days. And it might be even sooner than that if the weather continues to cooperate, he said.

Residents have reported that they are satisfied with the roads that have been completed so far, and Fleming said he agrees. He said he is happy with the way everything looks, that all areas of town will be seeing some new streets, and that the residents have welcomed the repaving crews into Franklinton.

“I think our crews and our people are doing a wonderful job assisting them in any way they can, and it’s all working out real good. And I do appreciate that,” he said.