Pickering Square construction resumes after contractor delay; city expects completion this year

City staff told the infrastructure committee that work at Pickering Square has resumed after a contractor delay earlier this season and that final surface work and plantings are expected to finish this year.

Engineering staff said the project was awarded last year to Streets Landscape and that underground stormwater features, electrical upgrades and groundwork were completed last year. A contractor-schedule delay pushed surface work beyond the original completion date; staff inspected the site and reported the contractor is now on-site and progressing with paver work and specialty in-ground lighting.

Staff described remaining items as pavers, specialty in-ground lighting, benches and decorative fencing and said a visual "blue swirl" path that links West Market Square to the waterfront will be installed with blue pavers cut and laid into the pattern. The city said it will plant landscaping and finish decorative elements this year.

Committee members pressed staff about schedule and media attention; staff apologized for the public visibility of the idle site earlier in the season and said daily inspections are underway until the project is complete. No new contract changes or liquidated-damages decisions were recorded at the meeting.