It may be a push to get it done, but the Downtown Revitalization Project should be completed on schedule by September 21. All of the underground utility installations are complete. Project Engineer Eric Voorhees said that meant installing 4,500 feet of storm drainage pipe, 60 different manholes and inlets, and just under a mile of curb and gutter to go above it all. The concrete work is complete all the way to Episcopal Street other than the intersections, but those will be worked on soon.
“The St. Michael intersection has been a little atypical for a while now, which I’m sure everyone’s noticed. Hopefully by early next week Episcopal will be opened up on the new concrete, and then we’ll shut St. Michael, pour the concrete, then open everything up on the new concrete, and we won’t have the funny configuration that we do now,” Voorhees explained.
Construction Superintendent Mike Ashton said the primary thing that may delay completion of the project is the conflict between the marine service center paving and the Front Street paving.
Public Works Director Carl Johnson explained, “What’s going on by the marine yard is we have two projects, the Marine Service Center paving job and the Front Street job that both meet at entrance to the boat yard. So currently the Marine Service Center is trying to pave their portion to the marine yard gate. They’ve got forms in and rebar, and they should be pouring within a day or two. So for right now the Front Street job can’t work there. As soon as the forms are pulled, the Front Street job can start working at that entrance.”
Ashton also said that extra, unanticipated work orders might delay the completion date, but Voorhees is still optimistic.
“September 21 is the current completion date. I’d say it’s aggressive, but it’s definitely doable. And a lot of it’s dependent on the weather. If we get good weather it helps with the concrete pouring. I’d say it’s comparable to getting through Campbell Drive by the 4th of July, getting to Case by the 21st. It’s aggressive but it’s doable.”
Other completed improvements including street lighting up to the SNO Building.
