MARLOW Parking in downtown Marlow was cordoned off on Monday to allow workers to peel up about an inch of asphalt from downtown streets for later repaving.

The work will continue today and possibly on Wednesday, said Marlow Administrator Jason McPherson, but shoppers, residents and merchants took the inconvenience in stride, possibly because they recognize the citys downtown makeover is nearing completion.

Im impressed with the understanding of our community, McPherson said.

Already in place are new sidewalks, curbs and gutters along with new streetlights and trees.

The new sidewalks replace cracked and crumbling sidewalks that in some cases were about 80 years old, McPherson said.

There were sidewalks before there were roads in this town, he said. This is really an improvement... These sidewalks will last long past my lifetime.

The asphalt work that began Monday will even up the street with the newly installed gutters, McPherson said, but workers will have to wait until temperatures reach at least 50 degrees over a sustained time period before new asphalt can be spread.

The work is part of a $1.145 million makeover of downtown Marlow.

The city is paying 55 percent of the cost while a grant from the Oklahoma Department of Transportation funds the remainder.

When the street work is finished, Marlow will hold a grand opening cermony to formally unveil its new downtown, McPherson said.

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Marlow makeover nears completion