Restoration efforts on Lexington’s Old Mill Pond Dam have reached their final steps.

The dam, breached during the historic Midlands flood in October 2015, has been under construction since 2020, with completion now expected within the next two weeks, according to Laban Chappell, owner of the Old Mill mall and the dam beside it.

“To have that lake back in place for everyone to enjoy the trail around … I think that's a pretty big amenity for downtown,” he said. “That was a big reason to rebuild it."

The Old Mill has agreed to let the Town of Lexington construct a public walking trail around the pond, for which work is set to begin following the completion of the dam.

The Chronicle last checked in with Chappell and the town about the dam’s progress last November, when the owner said the project was nearly done, with its anticipated completion date of spring 2022 having been delayed by issues caused by weather and COVID-19.

Chappell said that despite nearly an extra year of construction, the cost remained steady at roughly $2 million. 

He said completion of the project, with topsoil and sod being placed on the top of the finished dam, should come this week.

Chappell said that 90% of the construction delays were caused by weather, adding that equipment can’t navigate the slope as well when it is wet. He mentioned that there was an issue with one of the contractors, saying that it was too far in to make changes and that they continued to work together to complete the dam.

“I think that's gonna be a really fun neat thing for people to get outside,” the owner said.

With work on the dam coming to a close, Wesley Crosby, assistant to Lexington’s town administrator,said the roughly mile-long walking path should take about nine months to complete.

Crosby told the Chronicle that the trail will cost roughly $3 million and will include lighting and cameras. Funds for the project are coming from the Old Mill Pond Trail Fund’s which comes out of the Tax Increment Financing urban regeneration funds along with the streets and infrastructure fund.

The trail is set to increase pedestrian connectivity near downtown, as it will link the Old Mill and its parking lots, the Reserve at Mill Landing apartment complex, South Lake Drive (near New Bethel AME Church) and likely a new development that’s in the works nearby.

“Residents will have the opportunity to exercise, walk to restaurants and shop,” Crosby said. “It’ll give the citizens of the town and the area another tourism spot where they can park, where they can go outside and have some outdoor activities, walking, jogging, running.”

He added that he’s not sure if fishing will be allowed in the pond.

In addition to the trails, Chappell said he hopes to get the hydro-generator that powered the Old Mill up and running, telling the Chronicle that there is no set timeline for that project and that it is very dependent on the pond itself. He added that he will talk with the Department of Natural Resources about raising the pond and getting that process moving.

One business anxiously awaiting the completion of the dam and its walking trail is Hazelwood Brewing Company, which is housed in the Old Mill’s former boiler room. Apart from the obvious benefit of being walkably connected to the surrounding apartments and neighborhoods, the brewery is set to be powered by the dam once its hydroelectric abilities come online.

Hazelwood has been waiting to power itself with the creek that runs by the brewery since it opened in 2019.

Owner Matt Rodgers said being powered by the dam ties into the ethos of Hazelwood, which emphasizes locality and grows many of the hops it uses at a family farm in nearby Camden.

“It’s super exciting,” he said. “We’re going to be one of few breweries in the country that are completely energy independent. And just the idea of us tying in our farm attitude into what we're doing here, us being as sustainable as possible – the full picture is really coming about.”

Jordan Lawrence contributed to this report.