By Staff
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) notified Dowagiac that it scheduled bidding for its small urban street repaving project for February 2007.
If bid in February, the project will have a projected start date in mid-April and a projected completion date at the end of June.
The city still has a couple of on-street parking, crosswalk and handicap-accessible sidewalk ramp issues to resolve with MDOT prior to bidding.
The city received approximately $247,000 in MDOT grant funding for this project, along with a supplemental grant for about $68,000 through Gov. Jennifer Granholm's local jobs initiative program.
Local match will be approximately $35,000, compared to the original projected local match of $103,000 on the approximately $350,000 project.
City Manager Bill Nelson reported that additional costs may be incurred through rising costs of asphalt and additional curb repairs in certain areas.
He continues to recommend that Dowagiac keep the budget at the original level to possibly deal with these uncertainties.
This project involves resurfacing, curb repairs and minor drainage improvements to these streets:
Jefferson Avenue from S. Front Street to Cass Avenue.
S. Front from Main Street to Jefferson Avenue.
W. High from Lowe Street to Front.
E. Telegraph Street from W. Railroad Street to Front.
W. Railroad from E. Division Street to E. Telegraph.
Prairie Ronde Street from N. Front to Fairlawn Avenue.
Riverside Drive from the crosswalk at Riverside Cemetery to E. Division.
In other projects, the contractor completed most aspects of the electrical distribution system upgrade between substations. City crews were finalizing the project.
The city hopes to have preliminary recommendations back from its consultant within the next few weeks regarding potential power supply portfolios for Dowagiac's electric supply.
Installation of the pole for the Horvath cell tower was slated to begin this week.
All footings for the equipment pad had been approved.
Electrical permits had been issued.