Streetwork season begins in New Praguee

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

Street work on Highland Drive NE in New Prague continues, with the placement of class 5 bituminous scheduled to begin Monday.

The reconstruction of Highland Drive is phase one of the city's street project for this summer. K.A. Witt Construction Inc., of New Prague is completing the work. Reconstruction of Highland Drive begins at Lexington Avenue and goes northeast to Scott County State Aid Highway 37. The project includes utilities work such as the sanitary sewer and water mains, which were installed earlier.

Also this week on Highland Drive, concrete will be poured for the curbs and gutters. In a project report, Gary Lauwagie, resident project representative, asked residents along the route to refrain from walking or biking in the areas where the concrete is being poured. (The concrete takes up to seven days to reach the proper strength.)

Phase two of the project will occur on Eclipse Parkway where removal of the bituminous street surface has already begun. Residents will have access to their driveways and homes after the bituminous is removed. Phase two also includes work on utilities, with temporary water systems installed to serve residents. A representative of Witt Construction will notify property owners about the connections for the temporary systems.

Today (Thursday) water main work is scheduled to begin in the cul-de-sac near Eclipse Parkway. To lessen the impact on the Mala Strana Health Care campus, Liberty Heights Park and residents, crews will continue the work through the evening and nighttime hours. Temporary lights will be set up there allowing crews to finish the work as quickly as possible.