MURFREESBORO — Not all traffic tie ups are a headache especially if it means your town is growing.

Beginning this week, work will be in full swing in on a project to upgrade and expand the Cotton Street lift station. The upgrades are in response to the current expansion occurring at Chowan University with the addition of new residence halls.

According to Murfreesboro Public Works Director Gene Byrd, the project will close one lane of South Fourth Street, a popular thoroughfare for college students and neighborhood residents.

“We’ve got to increase the force main from a six inch to eight inch pipe,” he said.

Last week crews conducted preliminary work and mapping out the trench for the main along South Fourth.

Byrd said he expected work on phase one of the project to move quickly. The second phase of the project will occur after the university has let out for the summer as it will cause flow disruptions to the campus.

Byrd encouraged motorists, with the exception of local residents, to avoid Fourth Street. He added those using the road can anticipate a delay of a few minutes.

In February, Murfreesboro Town Council approved the upgrades, which will be sufficient enough for the phased out construction of the university’s Whites Crossing residential complex. The price of engineering services comes in at $9,500 while the estimated cost of the construction is $140,000.

According to town policy, the town will be fully reimbursed by the university.