Similar to the work done on Chestnut Avenue in 2013, the city looks to begin construction this spring

By Adam Hocking

Editor

MARSHFIELD — City officials held a public information session Monday night to inform residents about the upcoming construction project that will span Maple Avenue, running from Veterans Parkway to Sixth Street.

Segments of Third, Fourth, Fifth, and a portion of Sixth Street will also undergo major construction between Maple and Central Avenues. Second Street was initially included in the construction plans but also has been targeted as a potential area to add green space to downtown Marshfield as part of the city’s long-term vision.

“We’re putting a hold on Second Street between Central and Maple because there’s been a downtown master plan that has come out now that’s showing a green corridor between the Library and (Steve J. Miller) Park, so at this point we are going to build the project without Second Street until that issue gets discussed and worked through,” said City Engineer Tom Turchi.

Project planners compared the work that will be done to the construction completed on Chestnut Avenue and side streets in 2013. Turchi estimated the total project cost at about $2.8 million and said he viewed the project as long overdue considering the age of the some the utilities the city will be replacing.

“This reconstruction project is going to take care of all the underground utilities, so there’s locations where we’re redoing the sanitary sewer main that’s in excess of 100 years old. There’s locations that the water main is being replaced. The storm sewer we figured is over 85 years old, and that’s all beyond its life span, so in this instance we’re basically reconstructing all the underground utilities as well as reconstructing and building a brand new street,” Turchi said.

All of the streets and sidewalks in the construction zone will also be redone.

While the scope of the work being done will be significant, the city will complete the project in stages to minimize impact on business and property owners. The city will ensure access to municipal parking lots in the construction zone throughout the project.

The Board of Public Works will give final approval to the construction plans on Monday, Feb. 16. The city will start considering bids for the project on March 16 and is targeting a construction start date of May 4.

Turchi said that per state statutes, the city must choose the “lowest responsible bidder” for the project. He added that the city has pre-qualification requirements for any contractor to bid on the project.

“They have to show that they have enough financial ability and enough equipment to do the project, and then that gets approved by the Board of Public Works,” Turchi said. “Based upon that, anyone that then is prequalified can bid on the project, and the lowest responsible bidder is the one we have to award it to, so we don’t go out and pick a specific contractor, one over another.”

The city hopes to complete construction by the end of October this year.