Brighton directors report progress and unresolved lateral‑ditch crossing on Bridge Street; Fourth Avenue utilities nearly complete

City public‑works and utilities directors told Brighton City Council Tuesday that several major street projects are moving toward completion but that one unresolved technical issue will require further design work.

Utilities Director Scott Olsen reported that the new water main on Fourth Avenue is active and that connections along the corridor have been switched from the old line to the new one; staff said a punch list remains but the utilities portion is nearly complete. Public Works Director Greg Labrie said the road rebuilding on Fourth Avenue is being done in phases and that full reconstruction between Bromley and Jessup is underway with a final lift planned in September.

On Bridge Street, staff said they have completed paving of the lanes and progressed with striping; medians and landscaping work are underway. Labrie and other staff said they expect the street to be ready for a ribbon‑cutting in early September. However, both directors cautioned that a lateral‑ditch crossing remains a complicated engineering challenge that staff has wrestled with since February and that an optimal solution requires more study. The city intends to open the roadway and then tackle the lateral crossing design and permitting in the limited ditch‑work season.

Why it matters: Both corridors carry commuter and school traffic; directors addressed concerns about access, school start dates, and managing construction fatigue among residents. Council members pressed staff to avoid declaring a project complete if significant work will later require re‑digging or redoing portions of the roadway.

Key details and council comments - Fourth Avenue: Scott Olsen said the new water main is active and connections switched; utilities punch‑list work remains. Greg Labrie said full reconstruction is occurring in phases and a final lift is scheduled for early September; the project includes sidewalk and driveway repairs. - Bridge Street: Staff reported striping completed and all four lanes paved; medians and landscaping are in progress. Staff estimated the corridor would be substantially complete by early September and discussed a possible small ribbon‑cutting event. - Lateral‑ditch crossing: Staff described two viable engineering designs but said both present tradeoffs; one requires open trenching allowed only during a November–April ditch‑work window, the other requires boring that would be more disruptive to the newly finished roadway and could take about eight weeks. Staff said they plan to open the road and then take time to evaluate the lateral‑ditch design to minimize repeated disruption and manage construction fatigue for residents. - School access: Council asked whether Eighth Avenue work would be complete before the school year; staff said repaving of Eighth Avenue was scheduled to be finished by Aug. 20 (school start), and staff will coordinate with the school district on faculty and student access.

Discussion vs. decision: Directors presented project status and options; council did not take formal action but directed staff to continue evaluating the lateral‑ditch alternatives and coordinate schedules with schools and neighborhoods.

Ending: Staff emphasized intent to open roads and provide follow‑up briefings; council members asked for frequent updates and urged minimizing future disruptions to recently completed pavement.