Old Town Infrastructure Improvement Project Update

The first phase of the project is to install a 16-inch water main and 8-inch sewer line from Hwy 126 to Harbor Street along Quince. During our design phase and field verification, we have determined that some additional infrastructure system improvements will be necessary. These improvements include removing inefficient and problem plagued sewer piping at 8th and Quince Streets; stormwater improvements at 2nd and Harbor Streets; and ADA ramp at the NW corner of 2nd and Harbor Streets.

On December 2nd, Public Works met with Central Lincoln PUD about undergrounding and pole relocations. Under grounding power becomes complicated very quickly when dealing with primary electricity and 480 volt 3 phase circuits. Throw in the mix transformers, switching gear, a narrow right-of-way and a wide street cross section, undergrounding the power, phone, cable TV and new fiber optics become very interesting between Hwy 126 and 8th Street. The good news is that undergrounding between 8th and 6th will allow the elimination of a couple of transformers that are currently on the ground that served the old middle school.

On December 12th, Public Works staff met with ODOT to discuss the project, talk about permit requirements to cut Hwy 126 and possible monument signage at the southwest corner of Hwy 126 and Quince Street.

We performed the final plan review the week of December 19th; and sent advanced plans to ODOT for permits (to cut the highway); and just before Christmas completed the construction standards and specifications. The water and sewer portion of the project (on Quince from Hwy 126 to Harbor Street) was advertised December 29th with a mandatory pre-bid meeting with potential contractors on January 17, 2012; and bid opening on January 31, 2012.

One of the aspects of this project we’re very excited about is the incorporation of street modernization, in terms of stormwater management, on Quince Street between Hwy 126 and 6th Street. One of the stormwater management tools that we’ve looked at is Filterra Bioretention Systems (see illustration above). The Filterra product is different from the Contech product (we discussed with the Contech product with FURA during our presentation a year ago) which relies upon cartridges to contain the filter media and requires maintenance. The Filterra Bioretention system uses a filter media that is also a growing medium for trees and shrubs. The treated stormwater is then conveyed to a curb inlet/catch basin where it enters the stormwater system. High flows bypass the bioretention filter along the curb/gutter and then enters into a standard curb inlet/catch basin as illustrated on below.

We’ve also looked at narrowing the driveway approach to the Dunes Village Shopping Center (Dunes Café, laundry, True Value) which is currently over 55 feet wide and has conflicts with vehicle parking and circulation. Also, the driveway is steep and a redesign will need to consider the driveway grades, eight foot sidewalks along Quince Street, and lighting. PW and planning staff are reviewing the amount of parking on the site (so if we have to make any changes that they will still have the required parking). PW staff will be meeting with the shopping center owner(s) in January to discuss possible driveway designs and potential parking lot layouts that will fulfill all of our needs.

Mike Miller
Public Works Director
 

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