EDITOR’S NOTE: The Bricks & Mortar Report will provide updates every Monday on major construction projects in Chenango County.

Employment stats:

• The Chenango County Office of Employment and Training reported a 5.7 percent unemployment rate in March. The figure compares to a 5.8 rate in March of 2006.

• Chenango County is ranked 45 in the state.

Halfway House Bridge (County Route 32B):

• Bids are due back to the Chenango County Public Works Department May 24th for this $3 million bridge replacement project. Adjacent properties on the state Rte. 12 side of the structure were purchased last month in order to accommodate the new span’s more south-westerly entrance.

• “We hope to get a good start on it this year, especially if we have a decent construction season,” DPW Director Randy Gibbon said.

• The project has an anticipated fall 2008 completion date.

Norwich Business Improvement District:

• The City of Norwich and the Business Improvement District will be replacing the broken and loose bluestone striping throughout the downtown area with a poured synthetic product that will be imprinted. This is the same material that was used for crosswalk and median areas downtown.

• Construction is scheduled to begin in May.