Bicknell Mayor Thomas Estabrook says Christmas came early for the city. Bicknell has landed the full amount it requested through the state’s latest Community Crossings grant — just under $960,000. With the city’s match, it brings the total road project to about $1.2 million.

Work is set to begin in the spring and will cover 23 streets across the city, including sections of East 3rd, Freelandville Avenue, St. Clair, Miami, Hicks, Indiana, Cherry, Washington, Thomas, Mason, Park, Lankford, Virginia, Jefferson, Charles, Utt, Cleveland, 10th Street, and Illinois Street near the city limits.

The mayor notes this year’s Community Crossings program came with some changes. Lawmakers reduced the amount of funding available statewide and moved to just one application period a year. Smaller communities now pay a 20% match instead of 25%.

Several towns didn’t get funding in this cycle, and Estabrook says Bicknell is fortunate — and will continue chasing every state infrastructure dollar it can.