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Tuesday, 31 July 2007 |
Bellefontaine Street project to begin no earlier than 2011
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
The earliest the reconstruction of Bellefontaine Street from South Wagner Street to Water Street can start is the spring of 2011, a city administrator says.
Wapakoneta Safety-Service Director Rex Katterheinrich informed Wapakoneta City Council Streets, Alleys and Sidewalks Committee members on the Bellefontaine Street project during a meeting Monday in the Wapakoneta City Administration Building.
City administrators learned from Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) officials July 6 that the city received $1.848 million for the reconstruction of the main thoroughfare. The project is estimated to cost approximately $2.7 million.
The grant, part of ODOT’s Small City Transportation Program, provides up to 80 percent of the construction cost. The local municipality is responsible for the remaining percentage, approximately 20 percent of the project’s cost.
“Mary Ruck (Wapakoneta Engineering Department supervisor) and I have been in contact with Donna Schlegel from ODOT — her anticipation is that the earliest we could start reconstruction would be the spring of 2011,” Katterheinrich said during the committee meeting. “There is a lot of work to do between now and then — we haven’t turned a pencil on design.”
Katterheinrich said the city needs to start preliminary design and drawings on the project and to begin the right-of-way acquisition process.
“They said essentially we can’t advertise for bids until July 1, of 2010,” Katterheinrich said. “With this size of a project, until you advertise for bids, evaluate for bids and sign a contract — it is not likely you will start a project in October or November and have the roadway torn up all winter.
“ODOT’s recommendation is to have the plans done and be ready to advertise in early 2011,” he said, “then you could be able to start construction by March 1.”
The safety-service director told members the city is responsible for the entire the project, unlike an earlier Bellefontaine Street project.
“We will be responsible for the entire project,” Katterheinrich said. “There will be a considerable amount underground work that occurs there.”
Katterheinrich declined to provide costs on assessments because the project is still four years from now. Committee Chair Rodney Metz and committee member Terry Campbell said residents in the area raised concerns about their share of the costs.
Property owners are typically responsible for curbs, gutters and sidewalk expenses.
Katterheinrich updated members on the progress of the Harrison Street Bridge project. He said Kohli & Kaliher Associates Inc., a consulting engineering firm of Lima, is working on design drawing and specifications.
Katterheinrich also said he continues to work closely with members of the Auglaize County Engineer’s Office, particularly Bridge Designer Dan Bennett, on the project. |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 August 2007 )
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