Commission approves Franklin Street lighting repairs and new electrical feed

The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission approved two related lighting contracts on July 13: a not-to-exceed $38,897 contract for a new electrical feed to planter box receptacles on the 6th block of Franklin Street, and a not-to-exceed $116,053 contract to repair and reestablish the lighting grid on Franklin Street between 11th and 9th streets.

Skyler explained the work is corrective: during prior demolition and infrastructure work lighting control panels and conduits were relocated or damaged and now must be properly reconnected to restore dusk-to-dawn operation. "Some of the lighting panel controls were in the alleys there, so we had to relocate those panels...we need to basically fix it so we can get the lights between 10th and 9th Street along Franklin back in operational use," Skyler said. Skyler added the larger contract will allow newly installed fixtures to be connected into a single established grid.

The larger contract covers demolition of existing underground conduit and wire, boring new conduit, extending three-inch conduit to new in-ground lighting boxes, installing new poles and bases as needed, running new wiring, terminating and testing fixtures, and replacing defective receptacles. Both proposals were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote during the meeting.

Commissioners and staff said the work will reduce right-of-way congestion by eliminating one box and aim to provide longer-term reliability rather than repeated short-term repairs. Work will include boring under the street and vacuum excavation as specified in the scope.