Some Gert Town residents are expressing serious health concerns after workers in hazmat suits told them that soil in the area appears to be radioactive.
Crews have blocked off a city street to dig up the hazardous materials.
City Communications Director Beau Tidwell confirmed the presence of underground material producing radiation below the road surface at the intersection of Lowerline Street and Coolidge Court.
The city is now working with state and federal environmental agencies and a maintenance contractor to get rid of the material.
Despite assurances the material is not harmful, neighbors remain concerned about long term exposure to the radiation.
The city says it doesn't know where the radioactive material came from. But, the site is just blocks from where the Thompson-Haywood Chemical Company once stood.
An O'Reilly Auto Parts store now sits on the property on Earhart Boulevard where the plant once made pesticides and other toxic chemicals.
According to the city, crews have completed excavating the site and removing all of the underground material and placing it in large containers.
Repaving of the road is expected to begin Monday and is anticipated to be complete by the end of next week.