|
Pulaski Street is a primary route leading from Route 121
south of town into the downtown historic district.
Alderman Dave Armbrust noted that the street is brick and in poor
condition all the way to Ladue Street, which is three more blocks
than is currently being bid on, and would need attention in the
future.
The least expensive option, to overlay brick with asphalt, is
reported to have questionable longevity.
As you will note from the bids below, reworking the brick streets
to put brick back down is twice the cost of removing brick and
laying asphalt.
However, also to be considered is that brick streets are known to
last 100 years, an average 10 times the life span of asphalt.
Aldermen must also consider the future and the costs for a number
of other streets that now need renovating or soon will.
Streets being bid and their current composition
-
Pulaski Street --
2 blocks between Hamilton and Sheridan streets; one block
exposed brick, one block (in front of IGA) brick overlaid with
asphalt.
-
Sixth Street -- 1
block between College Avenue and Mill Street; now brick.
-
Kankakee Street -- 1 1/2 blocks between
Peoria and Keokuk streets; no brick.
Bid definitions
-
Base bid --
Overlay asphalt on top of the existing brick.
-
Alternate 1 --
Remove brick and subgrade, replace with proper aggregate or
gravel, asphalt overlay.
-
Alternate 2 -- Remove brick, upgrade
the subgrade, and then return brick.
Bids
Pulaski Street
-
United Contractors
Midwest
Base: $112,068.36
Alternate 1: $178,428.98
Alternate 2: $347,468.64
-
P.H. Boughton of Springfield.
Base: $165,355.41
Alternate 1: $234,719.98
Alternate 2 -- no bid
Sixth Street
-
United Contractors
Midwest
Base: $74,250.70
Alternate 1: $178,977.85
Alternate 2: $305,911.76
-
P.H. Boughton
Base: $83,788.95
Alternate 1: $216,556.36
Alternate 2: no bid
Kankakee Street
None of this project involves working with brick surfaces. It
would be asphalt to asphalt.
-
United Contractors
Midwest
$139,619.13
-
P.H. Boughton
$177,756.50
[to top of second column] |
It is up to the aldermen to budget how city funds are spent. In
their jobs, they must consider the full picture of current revenues
and expenditures for the city and view the effect on city services,
as well as other infrastructure maintenance and expansion needs. The
costs of street projects must be measured against future projects
and other city needs.
A bigger investment in brick would be a savings realized in the
more distant future but would delay important near future street
work. This would be a decision made more difficult by the toughest
economic times.
Aldermen and the mayor welcome citizens' thoughts as the council
manages and plans for the city of Lincoln's future.
Brick vs. asphalt
Should the city invest in restoring brick, at twice the cost,
that would last an average 10 times longer?
Should the city opt to take the immediate lesser cost measure of
asphalt, and then be more prepared to do other street improvements
in the near future years?
Should the decision be deferred, and a comprehensive street
project plan created that would focus on maintaining and restoring
select streets as brick and other streets asphalt?
Do you have another option?
Read the council discussion that took place on Tuesday evening
for further details, and then weigh in with your thoughts on the
subject.
Please be considerate of our officials' time. They represent you
and want to know your opinion, but they spend a lot of their
personal time to serve our community the best they can.
Keep your response brief and to the point.
Contact information
(Click on underlined names for email contact.)
Mayor:
Aldermen:
Ward 1:
Ward 2:
Ward 3:
Ward 4:
Ward 5
[LDN]
Click here to respond to the editor about this
article.
|
