On Tuesday, an open house-style public meeting was held regarding the 4th Street Project. There, attendees learned the contractor intended to start Monday, July 29 with equipment move-in and mobilization and Tuesday, July 30 with the full project.
This will mean 4th Street will be closed from Main Avenue to Eastern Avenue until mid-to-late November, when Phase I is expected to wrap up. Side streets between 3rd and 4th will be closed for the same project. These include Center Avenue, Canyon Avenue, and Eastern Avenue.
The street closure will bring updated infrastructure to the area, which includes a larger water main (from 4" to 6" in many areas), sanitary sewer line, storm sewer, curb and gutter, new pavement, and sidewalks.
While many attendees were concerned for their mature trees, not all will need to be removed as the contractor is planning to work around many of them. Those trees affected are those that have water or sewer lines under them, or are placed too close to the right-of-way.
The contractor and engineers from First Rate Excavate and Sayre Associates assured everyone that any specific requests will be taken under consideration, and all efforts would be made to ensure everyone had access to their homes. However, no traffic will be allowed on the street between Main and Eastern during the project.
Phase II will begin next April, weather permitting. That will include the area between Eastern and Oak Drive.
More information will be available in next week's edition of the Gazette.
