Design work is about 60% complete on two projects that involve making improvements to Sawyer and Edwards streets in the Old Sixth Ward, and a timeline from the group organizing the projects suggest they could go out for construction bids in the first quarter of 2023.

The projects are being funded by the Old Sixth Ward Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, which met Sept. 21 to hear updates on them as well as several other projects that came from a mobility study conducted in 2021.

On Edwards Street, improvements involve adding high-comfort bike lanes from Sawyer Street to Silver Street as well as low-impact development sidewalks along the north side of Edwards, according to the Sept. 21 agenda packet. Bike lanes will also be put in on Sawyer from Washington Avenue to Memorial Drive as well as a 10-foot-wide multiuse path along the south side of the street.

The projects are estimated to cost $136,650 in total. Construction is expected to last until around the third quarter of 2023.