(KAIR)--Numerous ongoing construction projects in Atchison continue to make progress as mild winter weather has worked in construction’s favor.

“There are certain things you can do when it’s cold and certain things you can’t do,” said Atchison’s Public Works and Utilities Director Justin Pregont. “But certainly if it’s 50 degrees, there are almost no limitations so everything happens really fast.”

While some larger projects like the new hotel and YMCA won’t be completed until late 2017, residents will soon notice improvements around Atchison.

“We’re working with Westar and StressCrete to replace some of the old streetlights downtown and that project should finish up in the next six weeks,” Pregont said.

He also mentioned a federal grant the city received to do a series of sidewalk improvements of the west half of downtown between Main Street and Kansas.

Downtown isn’t the only area of Atchison slated for new construction.

“In the next four weeks, our South Atchison Trail Project should get under construction and that’ll be done between three and five months,” Pregont said. “That’s something to be on the lookout for.”

Pregont added he’s working on multiple grant applications for other construction projects and he’s hopeful those will be added to the list of projects for the upcoming year.