by Brooke M. Walsh
Thisweek Newspapers

Director of Public Works Lee Mann offered further details about the scheduling and streetscaping of the Elm Street reconstruction project at the City Council's meeting April 2.

The city plans to begin sending out bids April 13. Bids will be awarded May 22, and construction on the project will begin in early June.

However, construction west of the railroad tracks will not begin until after Rambling River Days.

"Our hope is to have it substantially complete by the end of the construction season."

The estimated $6 million project is a partnership between the city and Dakota County to reconstruct Elm Street from First to Fourth streets, replace the sanitary sewer system and add a storm water drain system. The city's portion of the project fees is estimated at $3.5 million.

The project also involves upgrades to the streetscape.

At the April 2 meeting, Mann presented drawings illustrating an artist's concept of what the streetscaping will look like.

The sidewalks along Elm Street will be widened to 6 feet and the boulevards will be 8-11 feet. Resizing the sidewalk while maintaining a boulevard this size will require the removal of trees.

The decision to remove trees will be made on a case-by-case basis. If possible, the city will replant removed trees in other locations.

"It's our goal to save as many trees as we possibly can," Mann said.

Decorative paver banding will be added to the sidewalk near Third Street. In addition four banner poles, two on each side of the road, will be placed near the intersection of Third Street.
Sewer system

Because of ground contamination in the area, the city will approach construction of the sewer system carefully, to avoid contaminating the Vermillion River.

"We think that there was a gas station in the area, and they had some tanks that may have leaked in the past," Mann said.

Contamination of the Vermillion River would be most likely to occur during the process of dewatering, when the city will rid the ground of water collected at the water table level of 10 feet, so that they can dig to the sewer system, located 15-20 feet below the surface.

Mann said he hopes the city is able to stay in the acceptable discharge level for Vermillion River contamination without filtering the ground water or removing contaminated soil, but has looked into filtration methods.

If the city needs to filter the water, it may use one of two systems, an air stripper, which would turn the water into a mist, filtering out the contamination in the process and a carbon filter.

"If we do have to treat, and with the soil removal, it could cost $150,000," Mann said, adding that this is a high estimate.
Project group

Recognizing the impact this project could have on downtown businesses, the city is working with area residents and business owners to create a communication group that will meet once a month during the construction project. This group will have its first meeting prior to the onset of construction.

The city will also hold weekly meetings for the duration of the construction, each Wednesday at 2 p.m. at City Hall.

Both meetings will be open to the public.

Brooke M. Walsh is at brooke.walsh@ecm-inc.com.