By Staff
ROAD CLOSING R&S Construction workers Charlie Fluker, left, and O.J. Brown work on a project Monday that will widen the railroad crossing on Valley Road near the Atlas Roofing plant. Because of the work, a portion of the road will be closed today and then reopen on Thursday. Photo by Anna Wright/The Meridian Star
By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Aug. 26, 2003
A portion of Valley Road near the Atlas Roofing plant is scheduled to be closed today through Thursday while contractors work on a railroad crossing.
Atlas, at 2322 Valley Road, is putting in a railroad spur that may be used for receiving as well as shipping, company spokesman Carolyn Starnes said. The crossing is near where Valley Road becomes 49th Avenue South.
Lauderdale County Engineer Neal Carson said the road is expected to be reopened Thursday afternoon.
Atlas Roofing's Meridian plant began construction of a 50,000 square-foot addition in the spring. Starnes said the addition houses a state-of-the-art, highly automated production operation.
She said some positions in the new addition have been filled within the company, but other employees may be hired. It was originally anticipated that 6-10 people would be employed for the new operation.
Production at the addition is expected to begin in September or October.
The expansion was made so that the company could meet the demands of an expanding market.
Atlas Roofing Corp., headquartered in Meridian, manufactures and sells commercial and residential foam insulation, residential roofing, and polystyrene products.