Lexington Mayor Steve MacDougall is optimistic about the town’s growth.

In his 2020 State of the Town address, he credited improved traffic flow to the new traffic light system and 1-way Main Street area pairing.

Thanks to the improvements, travel time through Main Street has decreased 41%, MacDougall said. The new traffic lights have also cut travel time in half on the Sunset Boulevard corridor from I-26 to I-20.

The town spent $4 million on road improvements in 2019.

This year the town anticipates spending an additional $9 million on traffic improvements on North Lake Drive from North Church Street to Columbia Avenue. It will also relocate Dreher Street and the extension of Harmon Street to North Lake Drive.

MacDougall said the town expects to spend $20-30 million dollars on traffic improvements over the next 4 years.

The town will also:

• Start impact fees for new development. Developers will pay an upfront fee to account for increased traffic and other costs that come with new development.

• Rebuild Gibson Pond Park Dam damaged by the 2015 flood. The dam will feature 2 docks, and the pond will be restocked with fish.

• Create a 1-mile walking trail to circle the Old Mill Pond.

• Build a covered open-air pavilion along South Church Street. It will become home to the Farmer’s Market and will host events. It will accommodate food truck parking and will have fans and heaters.

The mayor congratulated Police Chief Terrence Green on being awarded the Strom Thurmond Excellence in Law Enforcement Award for 2019.