By the end of March the second phase of the street improvements are expected to begin on Main Street in Price. The three blocks affected will be Main Street from Carbon Avenue east to 300 East. The first portion was completed five years ago from Carbon Avenue west to Carbonville Road, under the overpass.
Mayor Joe Piccolo addressed the Price Kiwanis club Thursday night and explained that this phase is only expected to take 90 days. He explained that the earlier phase took more time because it was a longer distance and several problems occurred around the underpass.
“We are planning on having the International Days Parade on the new street at the end of July,” Piccolo assured the group.
According to City Engineer Gary Sonntag this is a Department of Transportation project funded by federal aid monies, which is geared to assist small urban road programs. The bid was awarded by Utah Department of Transportation to H. E. Davis & Sons in the amount of $859,430. It is anticipated that UDOT will give the notice to proceed to the contractor within the next few days.
According to Sonntag a pre-construction meeting will be held and then the project will begin.
The accompanying map shows the project area. “The entire road or three blocks will not be closed all at once,” explained Sonntag, “but rather will be closed as the project progresses.” Efforts will be made to allow cross traffic at 100 and 200 East provided there is no work at the intersection. “There will be a great deal of effort made to those businesses that have driveways to provide alternative routes into their businesses,” explained Sonntag.
Business employees as well as customers will be encouraged to use public parking behind the businesses or park on the street right of ways that are not impacted by the construction. The map also points out areas that have been designated as public parking lots during the construction.
Sidewalks are not going to be replaced so there will still be access to the businesses along Main Street. Businesses are being encouraged to allow rear access to their buildings as much as possible during the construction period.
Sonntag did say that the city is looking into the feasibility of allowing flexibility with the sign code ordinance. Although this was only discussed at the recent planning commission meeting since it wasn’t on the agenda, the planning commission was favorable with the concept.
Sonntag also addressed the irrigation issue and said that cross streets on Carbon Avenue, 100, 200 and 300 East will have the irrigation drainage pipes replaced. “Consequently, there will be an impact to irrigation water flows during the construction period,” he said, adding, “the city will make every effort to work with contractors to reestablish the piping quickly so irrigation schedules can stay as close to normal as possible.”
As earlier reported, the city is preparing to excavate and improve the road from curb to curb which will include removal of all asphalt, concrete curb to gutter, sewer and water mains and respective laterals. Crews will then install new water and sewer mains and respective existing services. The road subgrade and pavement will be reconstructed along with new curb and gutters on either side of the street. Street conduit will be installed within the intersections of 100 and 200 East in preparation for future traffic signals. Electrical conduit will also be installed on either side of the street for future street light replacements and the removal of overhead power lines. Storm drainage pipes will be replaced at each of the intersections.
Directional information will be made available to assist vehicles and walkers in search of entrances and public parking lots within the downtown area while the construction is underway.
According toMayor Piccolo, the city wants to be proactive and helpful in assisting the merchants and businesses during the time when the streets will be torn up. He is encouraging businesses to contact council members Don Reaveley or Stephen Denison or himself if they have any concerns or suggestions. “We learned from the mistakes we made in the first phase and this time it is our hope that we will make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks,” said Piccolo.
Spring construction on tap for portions of Main Street
