Minnesota’s other season – construction season – is soon to be upon us.

Tuesday, April 11, 2000

Minnesota’s other season – construction season – is soon to be upon us. For this season, the City of Austin’s engineering department is proposing several street projects.

Monday night, nearly 25 residents attended one of the least controversial informational meetings on the projects in recent years. City Engineer Jon Erichson, assistant city engineer Dan Fick, and Senior Engineering Technician Denny Bissen answered questions on the projects.

The Austin City Council will hold public hearings on the projects at its April 17 meeting.

Details of the projects follow:

n 12th Street NE/SE from Fourth Avenue SE to Oakland Place to 8th Avenue NE. The project will be divided into three phases, which together are expected to last about 12 weeks. Erichson said the project would probably begin right after school lets out and end before the start of school in the fall. The most notable changes to the street will be the changing of the intersection at Fifth Avenue and 12th Street to a right angle intersection, in order to slow traffic. The street will also be widened south of Fifth Avenue. Estimated assessment costs are $32-$34 per linear foot for residential and $43-$45 per linear foot for commercial.

n South Main Street from Oakland Avenue to Ninth Place SW, also First Street SW. South Main will be torn up and the existing street widened two feet – one foot on either side. Storm sewers will be upgraded and deficient sanitary sewer pipe replaced.

Decorative street lights will be installed; the city’s goal is to have the street lights running from the Pizza Hut bridge on North Main all the way to the Ninth Street bridge. The bridge deck will also be redone. Estimated length of the project is 10 weeks. Work won’t start until after July 4, probably July 11. Estimated assessment costs are $32-$34 per linear foot for residential and $43-$45 per linear foot for commercial.

While Main Street is under construction, First Street SW will be used as a detour.

After Main Street is completed, plans are to eliminate the part of First Street at the bottom of the hill, to allow for a continuous park and bike path along Ninth Street, as well as parking for the former St. Paul’s church. Erichson said that work was slated for the fall, but it could easily be delayed until next spring.

n Second and Third Avenues NE and Ninth Street between First and Fourth Avenues. This project will remove all of the existing pavement and concrete curbs.

Pavement will be replaced with 8-inch asphalt on Second Avenue and 4-inch asphalt on Third and Ninth. Second Avenue will be widened two feet, with Third Avenue increasing six feet to the north. Ninth Street will remain 30 feet from First to Second Avenue and increase to 36 feet from Second to Fourth Avenue. Storm sewers will be upgraded and deficient sanitary sewer pipe replaced.

Estimated assessment costs are $32-$34 per linear foot for residential and $43-$45 per linear foot for commercial.

Homes which have frontage on both Second and Third Avenues will only be assessed for the Third Street side, Erichson said.

n 15th Avenue NE from North Main Street to Fourth Street NE. The existing concrete will be removed and replaced with 8-inch concrete, with the width remaining the same and the concrete curbs intact. Storm sewers will be upgraded and deficient sanitary sewer pipe replaced. Estimated assessment costs are $32-$34 per linear foot for residential and $43-$45 per linear foot for commercial.

n Second Avenue NW from Main Street to First Street NW. The existing concrete will be removed and replaced with 8-inch concrete pavement and integral concrete curb; handicapped ramps will be installed at all intersections. The width will increase from 40 to 44-feet. Storm sewers will be upgraded and deficient sanitary sewer pipe replaced. Decorative street lights will be installed the length of the project.

Estimated assessment costs are $43-$45 for commercial.

Questions on any of the projects may be directed to Fick or Erichson, at 437-9950.

Pavement will be replaced with 8-inch asphalt on Second Avenue and 4-inch asphalt on Third and Ninth. Second Avenue will be widened two feet, with Third Avenue increasing six feet to the north. Ninth Street will remain 30 feet from First to Second Avenue and increase to 36 feet from Second to Fourth Avenue. Storm sewers will be upgraded and deficient sanitary sewer pipe replaced.

Estimated assessment costs are $32-$34 per linear foot for residential and $43-$45 per linear foot for commercial.

Homes which have frontage on both Second and Third Avenues will only be assessed for the Third Street side, Erichson said.

n 15th Avenue NE from North Main Street to Fourth Street NE. The existing concrete will be removed and replaced with 8-inch concrete, with the width remaining the same and the concrete curbs intact. Storm sewers will be upgraded and deficient sanitary sewer pipe replaced. Estimated assessment costs are $32-$34 per linear foot for residential and $43-$45 per linear foot for commercial.

n Second Avenue NW from Main Street to First Street NW. The existing concrete will be removed and replaced with 8-inch concrete pavement and integral concrete curb; handicapped ramps will be installed at all intersections. The width will increase from 40 to 44-feet. Storm sewers will be upgraded and deficient sanitary sewer pipe replaced. Decorative street lights will be installed the length of the project.

Estimated assessment costs are $43-$45 for commercial.

Questions on any of the projects may be directed to Fick or Erichson, at 437-9950.