Infrastructure upgrades planned for the town of Abbeville are still moving along, according to Mayor Scott Fricker.

The town of approximately 400 residents has been awarded a $307,000 community development block grant administered through the state to improve water lines and connect more residents to the city water system. The town took over the 50-year-old water association and has designs on making improvements.

Fricker said six-inch lines will be installed and residents on East Long Street will be connected to the city water system for the first time.

He said the engineering phase of the project is concluding and “hopefully we’ll have it go out for bids the first part of March,” Fricker said.

Once the bid process is completed in 30 to 45 days, Fricker said work could begin no later than early May.

“We hope to have it completed by July or August,” he said.

The work will also include installing fire hydrants throughout the town that will be strategically placed in an effort to lower the town’s fire rating from a 10.

“We know it will lower fire insurance, but we don’t know yet to what degree,” Fricker said.

Fricker said there has been no new progress on Center Point Energy running natural gas lines into town, but remains hopeful that will take place.

“It’s still out there,” Fricker said.

Fricker and the town aldermen will meet for their regular meeting Thursday night at 7 p.m. It is expected follow-up discussion among town officials on the recent public meeting regarding zoning will be on the agenda.