While road construction on Mt. Pisgah seems to be taking longer than projected to residents, projects adminis-trator Christal Thomas says there’s “a lot of activity going on but it’s behind the scenes.”

The contract with Talley Construction was signed at the Catoosa County commissioners meeting on Oct. 20, and actual construction began on Nov. 16.

In between those dates, Thomas said, work was moving forward. The construction company typically orders con-struction materials only after the contract is signed.

Also, the utility companies also have to cut off, move, or adjust the pipes and lines that are in the construction area.

Thomas said Ringgold Telephone Co. had the most extensive and most expensive work to do, moving fiber optic cables. This process took several weeks.

She said the telephone company and Catoosa Utility District were the fastest to accommodate the construction company’s needs.

The gas, electricity, and cable companies weren’t as responsible, she said, and Talley had to redesign the con-struction to keep it on schedule.

The 45-day contract — an “insanely short” time to finish this type of project, Thomas said — will not expire until Dec. 30, but the construction company is hoping to get finished by Christmas.

The company is working 12-hour shifts and Saturdays in order to meet this deadline.

Thomas said the steel has been installed and concrete will be poured as soon as the weather permits it.

“Everyone is moving as fast as these project can go,” she said.

She will present a slideshow of photos to update the commissioners at the next meeting on Dec. 15.

This project was also put on the fast track when the commissioners declared it an emergency after the floods at the end of September. Because of their declaration of emergency, a project that would have just now had an ac-cepted contract is nearing the end of construction.

Catoosa County commissioner Ken Marks said the construction is an ongoing process.

“I know those people are frustrated,” he said.