Prices will start rising Oct. 1 and interest-free loans will disappear for spaces at the mausoleum under construction at historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery.

The $2.4 million mausoleum, which will add 588 crypts and 580 cremation urn niches to the city-owned cemetery, is still slated to be finished in February 2013. Oregon-based Milne Construction holds the contract.

“They’re pouring the concrete and they’ve started back-filling and compacting the site,” Rome Public Works Director Jamie McCord said Wednesday. “We had some rain they weren’t expecting, but they’re back on schedule.”

The walls visible at the site this week outline the first level of the neoclassical structure with a central entrance and two wings.

Prices start at $6,880 for crypts and $1,300 for niches.

Oct. 1 is the cut-off for some special prices and financing deals. Cemetery Director Stan Rogers said the system is structured so all the best spots aren’t snapped up in pre-sale discounts.

As of early Wednesday, 24 crypts and 36 niches had been sold for a total of $336,670. Rogers said a $20,650 double crypt also sold Wednesday for 25 percent down and 12 monthly payments with no interest.

For information about spaces and pricing call the cemetery department at 706-236-4534.

The mausoleum report came during the public works committee’s monthly meeting. McCord provided an update about the sidewalk restoration project.

“It’s moving slower than anticipated, but the only way to speed it up is to tear out more at a time,” he told the committee.

The work in the 200-400 blocks is being done in increments to avoid inconveniencing businesses and their customers. In addition to removing deteriorated sidewalk panels, crews are replacing the protective but potentially hazardous tree grates with decorative plantings.

City Manager John Bennett said new concrete curbs also will eliminate the tendency of rainwater to pool in the crosswalks.

“Broad Street crosswalks have always had what I call a ‘birdbath’ problem,” he said. “It’s aggravating, especially for the handicapped, to slosh through it.”

The goal is to have the project complete by the Christmas shopping season.