Bedford public works details 4B projects, mill-and-overlay plan and new sidewalk survey

Public Works Director Joe Schweitzer told the Street Improvement Economic Development Corporation on July 1 that recent and upcoming 4B-funded projects include completed utility-and-street conversions, ongoing Parkwood Street and Utilities work, and planning for larger reconstruction on Brown Trail.

The report summarized completed projects such as Deuce Drive and Phillis Street; active work at Parkwood — where the city aims to open Bedford Road in time for Fourth of July holiday and close it once to finish sidewalks — and a planned Gregory and Bedford Court sewer-and-street project expected to be bid later this year. "We will, hopefully open it by the end of this week for the July 4," Schweitzer said of Parkwood.

Schweitzer emphasized the city’s approach to group work so utilities and street work occur together to reduce future disruption. He said the Gregory/Bedford project will use cured-in-place pipe in backyard sewer runs where possible so crews do not dig every yard, and that both asphalt and concrete designs were prepared; the engineer’s estimate currently favors concrete. "It's actually cheaper for us to do concrete," he said.

Council members pressed staff on several operational details. Council member Sable asked that Encore remove old power poles…