Short-term roadwork taking place along Market Place Boulevard this week should be finished before the Christmas rush, officials say.

Cumming City Administrator Gerald Blackburn said Wednesday that patches of asphalt along the well-traveled retail corridor need replacing.

“Some of the asphalt was tested and found to be defective, so we asked the contractor [C.W. Matthews] to replace it and they agreed to,” said Blackburn, noting the project is being handled at no cost to the city.

Describing the project as “short lived,” Blackburn said it should be completed by the first of next week.

“The asphalt work is done already, we’re now just waiting on the striping crew to come in to restripe it,” he said.

“With asphalt work, there’s only certain times [with the weather] it can be done, and this was one.”

The weather has cooperated so far this week.

There’s been no precipitation, and the high temperature approached 70 degrees Wednesday. The forecast does not call for any rain until late Thursday night.

A representative with Moreland Altobelli, an engineering company that works on road projects with the city, said the project involves about 15 patches of asphalt.

The work is being conducted during nonpeak hours of the day. The striping will continue during that time frame, which runs from about 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The week leading up to Christmas is typically a busy time along Market Place, home to several retail centers. Large crowds are expected throughout next week.