Carbon County officials said that all courthouse services will continue as normal as the courthouse renovation project begins.

On Thursday, the county commissioners said that the project will begin on Monday with demolition in the basement to prepare for boiler and HVAC updates and other upgrades. The work is part of a $5 million plan to update the over 120-year-old courthouse and provide better functionality for offices.

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that there will be some “slight inconveniences from time to time, but services will continue.”

The project is expected to take about 18 months.

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that during the renovations, people will see tarps and cordoned off portions of hallways that will provide passage through the construction zone so that construction work and daily operations can continue simultaneously.

“We’re asking for cooperation,” he said. “The more cooperation that we have in moving people around as we proceed, the sooner we can get it done.”

He stressed that there will still be complete access to entrances so that if a problem arises that an evacuation must take place, everyone in the building can still use all halls to exit the building.

The courthouse renovation project has been a longtime coming, with bids finally awarded in August. At that time, Lukasevich cast the sole no vote for the contracts because he felt the county was overspending and also moving the clerk of courts office was unnecessary.

The project will include interior renovations to upgrade electrical systems, HVAC, plumbing and shifting around a few offices. The historic appearance of the courthouse will remain unchanged.