“We are near the end.”

That’s what Opp City Planner Jason Bryan said Tuesday about the long-awaited and ongoing L&N Depot project.

Bryan said the wood flooring is complete; kitchen is complete; alarm system is being installed today; handrails are installed; bathrooms are awaiting final touchups, and irrigation is being installed prior to finishing the landscaping.

The magnolias have been planted and the crepe myrtles are on the way, he said.

The signal pole has been repainted and the exterior glass fronts have been installed and are being resealed.

The concrete floors are expected to be refinished by the end of this week and stained next week.

“A final punch list is being compiled for the contractor to correct or touchup,” Bryan said.

Opp Mayor Becky Bracke said barring any unforeseen circumstances, the depot should be complete by the end of next week.

“We have already had several people rent the depot,” she said. “We have a wedding reception, reunion and baby shower on the list.”

The Chamber is expected to occupy the building in the coming months.

“They will meet Tuesday,” Bracke said. “I’m hoping they will move in sometime in October.”

Bryan expressed his gratitude to those who made the project possible.

“Thanks goes out to all who have participated in bringing this building back into use and bringing new activity to downtown,” he said. “Keep an eye out for the open house announcement in the coming weeks.”

Finishing the depot will be a culmination of at least a decade’s worth of work and planning.

The project began in January and was expected to cost $762,500.

Paul Catrett’s construction company won the bid for the job.

The city was awarded a $400,000 grant through the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) for the project.

The city had to provide a 20 percent match for the funding.