Utility poles will not have to be relocated for the new overlay of Pecan Avenue as initially expected, however, some areas along the sidewalk will have to be made handicapped accessible, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen were told earlier this month.
The state Department of Transportation has now agreed that the costly relocation of the utilities won't be necessary, Brian Nettles of Waggoner Engineering told the board.
As a small trade off, MDOT has asked that one section of the sidewalk, from Columbus Avenue to Stribling Street, be made handicapped accessible, he said.
A $702,150 project to overlay portions of Pecan Avenue was placed on temporarily hold last month because MDOT wanted the city to spend about $90,000 to move the utility poles.
While such things as wheelchair ramps will now have to be constructed on the sidewalk, Mayor James Young
called it an advantageous tradeout.
"This will make our city better and make it more accessible for everybody, including those in wheelchairs," Young said.
While the city doesn't have a cost estimate yet for the work, most of it will be done in-house, he said.
"Once they give us the specifications we will know what the costs will be," he said. "When we look at the cost of the street paving versus what we will have to pay, it's s win-win situation."
Pecan Avenue, from Columbus Avenue to near Northside Park, was deemed a top priority for repaving earlier this year.
The city planned to do the work utilizing $509,000 of its Surface Transportation Program funds.
It is required to fund the design engineering on the Pecan Avenue project as part of the STP match at a cost of about $65,900 in addition to $127,250 toward the paving.
The city was also awarded $262,074 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which will be directed to re-paving projects as well.
The city plans to repave Herman Alford Memorial Parkway west to the railroad crossing.
The city will utilize the remainder of the funds to repave .3 miles of Railroad Avenue from Rea Street to Wilson Street at a cost of about $65,457.
