City awarded $880,000 grant to pave East Galloway Street

By: 
Steve Lyon
The city of Weiser will receive a $880,000 grant to repave, add curbs and gutters and do other work along East Galloway Street from State Street to East 6th Street. 
 The city was successful in obtaining the funding through the competitive 2019 Local Strategic Initiatives Program. City officials said the nice thing about the state grant is there is no matching money required from the city.
 There were 92 applications from cities and local governments requesting over $69 millon in state funds. A total of 29 projects were approved at a cost of $24 million, including the city’s application. LHTAC has notified the city in the form of an award letter that the funds will be issued shortly. 
 The Idaho Legislature approved the Strategic Initiatives Program a couple of years ago to be administered by the Idaho Department of Transporation. The purpose of the program is to fund select transportation projects that are proposed by ITD’s six districts and local units of government. 
 Justin Walker, with the engineering firm Keller Associates, provided details about the grant and street project for the city council earlier this month. The firm worked with the city to submit the application for the grant for the city last fall. 
 “It’s really a great achievement for the city of Weiser,” Walker said.
 The city council approved a contract for $72,300 with Keller Associates for professional services for the final design and bidding services on the Galloway Street project. It is anticipated that the project will go out to bid in April.
 Walker said the window of time for the work is limited to the summer months when Weiser Middle School is on vacation. The project must be completed by December of 2019. The city will not have to acquire any rights of way to do the project. 
 The grant will cover the cost of curbs and gutters and paving from State Street to East 6th Street. The funds also will pay for a continuous sidewalk on the north side of the street, Walker said.
 If the budget allows, sidewalk will be constructed on the south side of the street. Officials did a walk-through of the project to assess what sections of sidewalk and existing curb and gutter can be retained during construction. 
 If LHTAC will approve it, the scope of work could include adding sidewalk, curb and gutter on East 6th Street to Pence Street. LHTAC will oversee the project and administer the grant, Walker said. 
 “We’re confident and hopeful that we’re able to do more than that,” he said.
 The scope of work includes installing catch basins at each intersection on East Galloway Street. Drainage along the street was not part of the original project when the city applied for the grant, Walker said, but there should be enough money to do the work. 
 The contractor will likely need to construct a piece of stormwater pipe under the street between East 3rd and East Fourth streets, he said.
 “Our intent is to address as much of the storm drain issues as we can in the budget,” Walker said.
 Walker said the best way to proceed with the most flexibility will be to go out with a base bid with additive items that can be done as funding permits. The project must be bid out and awarded to a contractor with a public works license. 
 Mayor Diana Thomas said improvements to East Galloway Street has been a project the city has wanted to pursue for a while. 
 With Ridley’s building a new store on East 6th Street and the potential for more commerical growth in the area, the city believes Galloway Street will get busier in the future.
 The East Galloway Street project will make the street smoother for vehicles and safer for pedestrians to walk to Ridley’s or Bi-Mart, she said.
 

Category:

Signal American

18 E. Idaho St.
Weiser, ID 83672
PH: (208) 549-1717
FAX: (208) 549-1718
 

Connect with Us