Council leans to 'option 2' for Dallas Street: mill and overlay plus drainage work

Engineering staff presented three conceptual designs for improvements to Dallas Street from Main Street to Ninth Street and council discussed preferences and drainage concerns.

Travis Small, engineering construction, summarized existing conditions: two-lane asphalt roadway with varied pavement condition, partial curb and gutter and open ditches in places. He presented three options with preliminary cost estimates: option 1 (mill and overlay with patching) estimated at about $493,000; option 2 (patch, mill and overlay with additional drainage work) estimated about $760,000; and option 3 (widen to a three-lane roadway with substantial drainage work) estimated about $2,500,000.

Council discussion: Council and staff focused on steep open ditches on the north side and the need to enclose or otherwise stabilize those ditches. Council members noted option 3 would likely require additional right-of-way acquisition and could alter the downtown character. Several council members, including the vice mayor, expressed a preference for option 2 with additional enclosure of critical drainage reaches so the city could move design forward and put the project out to bid sooner.

Next steps: Staff said they will proceed with option 2 design adjustments to add additional drainage enclosure work and provide updated cost estimates and design plans for council review before bidding. No formal action was required at the conceptual preview stage; staff asked for direction to continue design work and that direction was given.