Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Central Avenue work advances; phase 3 engineering approved with multi-year timeline
Loading...
Summary
City staff and American Structure Point reported progress on Central Avenue phases 1 and 2 and the commission approved an engineering contract for phase 3. Officials said federal funding requires environmental review and right-of-way acquisition, with construction likely several years away.
Todd Rosicky, project engineer with American Structure Point, told the Portage City Redevelopment Commission that work on Central Avenue phases 1 and 2 is progressing: low transfer platforms and bridge beams across Willow Creek are complete, decks are scheduled for pouring and embankment construction continues before storm-sewer work begins.
Rosicky said phase 2 tree-clearing has started; the contractor is awaiting a subcontractor to finish clearing before building two detention ponds, one at each end of that project. He reported that the city-owned building at Willowdale and Central will soon be removed as part of the work.
The commission later approved a professional engineering services contract with American Structure Point for Central Avenue phase 3, which will extend from County Line Road to Brandt Street. Eric Wolverton of American Structure Point explained the funding and schedule: the project will be funded at an 80/20 split with the larger share described as federal funds. Because federal funds are involved, Wolverton said the project requires an environmental document and that right-of-way acquisition will be extensive — he estimated about 92 parcels will require some right-of-way work and that right-of-way acquisition could take 15–18 months. Wolverton added that the environmental approval and related processes make construction likely two-and-a-half to three years out from the current date.
Commissioners discussed whether right-of-way appraisal work can proceed while awaiting environmental approval. Wolverton said appraisal and review-appraisal activities can proceed, but actual owner contact and negotiations (offers) cannot occur until after the environmental document is approved by Federal Highway.
The commission approved the engineering agreement and directed staff to coordinate with NDOT and federal partners on environmental documentation and right-of-way planning.
