Officials say water‑line and street projects will be staggered to limit traffic; 66th Street expected open Jan. 15

City staff told the Mayor and Board Commissioners during a study session that the city’s seven recent water‑line bids will not all begin at once and that nearby street projects are being scheduled to limit neighborhood traffic disruptions.

At the start of the meeting a commissioner asked Riley, a staff member, for clarification about agenda items 7.4 through 7.9, which cover the water‑line bids. Riley replied, “That’s correct,” and explained that contractors were asked during pre‑bid meetings to complete projects within three years and that individual contract times govern each project's schedule. Jason, a city staff member giving the engineering update, added the firms will typically sequence work so one contract “is going to, like, build 1 after the other,” rather than having all projects start simultaneously.

Why it matters: Commissioners expressed concern about simultaneous construction in neighborhoods. Staff said only parts of local streets and intersections where crews cross roadways are expected to affect traffic, and most pipe replacement work will be done behind curbs.

Jason also briefed the commission on two street projects tied to community traffic impacts. He said the reconstruction of 66th Street—on the city’s east side between Willow and Breckenridge Road—requires “about 1 more pour” and that the contractor’s contract time ends Jan. 15; “barring good weather, they should be substantially completed by that time,” Jason said. He cautioned that some ditch repairs, shoulder work and driveways may remain after the road reopens to through traffic.

On the Cleveland Street widening project, Jason said the contractor and the railroad requested an earlier start. The work at the railroad and nearby sections will begin on the Monday the contractor requested (identified in staff materials as the 13th) and will include a closure at Rolling Oaks. Jason said the closure will include a traffic detour “so that not a whole lot of traffic will be going down Rolling Oaks” and that the closure is slated for about 90 days; he described the 90‑day figure as the longer end of the expected range.

Commissioners pressed staff on traffic control, signage and how long closures would last. In response to whether Rolling Oaks would be limited to local traffic only, Jason said: “It’ll be local traffic only. Yes.” When asked about posting signs, Jason said that is the intention and that staff will escalate traffic control if the detour becomes an issue.

Discussion versus decisions: The session recorded questions and staff commitments to post signage, coordinate detours and monitor impacts, but there were no formal motions or votes recorded on these items during the study session.

Context and next steps: Staff said the water‑line contracts were bid with completion windows to be enforced per contract terms and that the city will coordinate staging among contractors to reduce simultaneous closures. The Cleveland Street closure was advanced after railroad coordination; 66th Street work remains on schedule for mid‑January reopening of through traffic.

Documentation: Commissioners and staff identified Pioneer Elementary as affected by bus‑route changes during the 66th Street work. No specific funding sources or contract award details were discussed in the study session minutes provided.