City moves forward with 2011 Street project

By Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

The New Prague City Council moved forward with its 2011 street project as it approved a resolution ordering improvements and and an agreement with the engineering firm of Short Elliott Hendrickson (S.E.H.) Inc., for the work.

During a public hearing for the project at the Monday, Nov. 15, council meeting Chris Cavett of S.E.H. gave a review of the street and utility improvement project. Areas being done are portions of Fifth Street NW, Fourth Street NW, Fourth Street NE, First Avenue NW, Central Avenue N and a sidewalk is proposed along part of Columbus Avenue N. Cavett noted to the council and the 17 audience members that an assessment hearing on the work will be held at a later date. Estimated cost for the work is $1.6 million.

Cavett said Fourth Street NW and Fifth Street NW are listed as right of ways, but serve as alleys. The proposed work for those areas is to salvage the gravel, do a subcut of the two, rebuild with better gravel and install drain tile.

Work on the other streets includes sanitary sewer, water main and storm sewer. Cavett noted Central Avenue will be widened slightly to 32 feet with parking to be only on the east side for safety reasons.

Council member Kristin Guerrette said there is currently no parking at all on the street. Cavett said he is working with the New Prague Area School District on a plan for that.

For First Avenue NW, it is proposed the street be narrowed from 33 feet to 32 feet and parking be allowed on both sides. Residents along First Avenue have cited that vehicles tend to go faster than the speed limit. The narrower road and more parked cars have actually calmed traffic in such situations.

Two sidewalks are proposed that would border St. Wenceslaus Cemetery. One would be on the north side of Fourth Street NE and the other would be on the west side of Columbus Avenue going all the way down to Scott County State Aid Highway 37.

Steve Frost, a member of the cemetery board, said the board wants to work with the city on the sidewalk. There are questions about possibly replacing trees and who is in charge of cleaning the sidewalk.

Cavett didn't have an answer for who would take care of them. He noted he will be working with the board and the school district.

The city hopes to have the project out for bids in March, with bids awarded in April, with construction beginning in mid-May.