Construction will begin soon on Carbide, other city projects being planned
SAULT STE. MARIE — As spring begins in Sault Ste. Marie, the city is preparing for several construction projects that could not be completed during the winter.
An update recently released from city engineer David Boyle details the five planned projects coming up this construction season.
The Easterday Avenue truck route reconstruction and Carbide Dock port reconstruction projects, which have been in planning phases for several years, were recently awarded to different companies. Bacco Construction Company has taken the Easterday truck route with a $10,676,514 bid and Roen Salvage Company has taken the Carbide Dock reconstruction project with a bid of $21,793,000.
City officials said affected property owners have received updated letters and construction is planned to begin soon.
The first major project is a water main replacement on a half mile stretch of Meridian Street. From Easterday Avenue to 8th Avenue, Meridian Street will have roadway replaced and reconstructed while the water main and sewer is also replaced.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Small Urban Program has provided $2.5 million in funding for this project. Bidding was originally planned in early March, and early bids came in at $4.7 million. The project is now looking to reduce costs before rebidding later in the year.
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The next major project is the Water Street sewer overflow project in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There are three remaining combined sewer overflow areas in the city, and this project would remove the combined sewer overflow on Water Street.
The project will include reconstructing the sewer overflow structure in the intersection of Bingham Avenue and Water Street, as well as constructing a sewer lift station to complete the project. Combined with storm drainage pipe rehabilitation, this project will prevent drainage and overflow through St. Marys Falls Park.
The project can begin planning after it is officially agreed by the U.S. Army Corps at the currently estimated price of $1.2 million.
The Power Canal Trail is in Phase II, a continuation of a half-mile of non-motorized trail from Ashmun to Johnston streets. The project is being done in partnership with MDOT, Cloverland and private donations.
This project, originally slated for 2022, was delayed due to emergency utility work on the canal required by Cloverland. MDOT awarded the contract to Payne & Dolan, and they have agreed to an extension of time until August 2023.
The proposed Safe Routes to School project consists of improvements to pedestrian walkways within the service areas of Lincoln Elementary, Washington Elementary and Sault Area Middle School. This project would also complement and continue the connection between a previous Safe Routes to School project at Bahweting Schools.
The topographical survey is complete and the environmental review is currently under way. The next phase of the project will be design and then the public will be invited to stakeholder meetings. Partners in this project include MDOT, Sault Area Schools, the Sault Tribe, and the city.
MDOT will also be conducting two projects this year, including the downtown repaving which is set to start on April 24 on Ashmun Street, from the bridge to Portage Avenue, and the M-129 repaving of 18th Avenue to 10 Mile Road. The city will be replacing water main from 18th Avenue to 3 Mile Road.
— Contact Brendan Wiesner: BWiesner@Sooeveningnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Sault News: Sault city officials announce spring construction projects
