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Salem Sidewalk Project To Be Bid This Fall

Last updated on Monday, August 6, 2012

(SALEM) - What started out as three projects, all involving Shelby Street and/or sidewalks in the vicinity of Salem Schools, has been lumped into one.

Marcia Walker, of the Salem Leader reports, Salem Mayor David Bower made that announcement during a recent meeting of the Salem Board of Works and Public Safety. Lumping them together means they can be bid as one package.

"They're going to be bid in September," Bower reported.

Work could begin as early as this October or November, according to Janis Kidd, with HWC Engineers, the company that will oversee all three. The bid date is Sept. 12.

"Everything goes through INDOT," Kidd said, adding that INDOT will analyze the bids and double check quantities. "INDOT takes care of that side of it. It will take three to four weeks to award the contract."

The projects have been in the works for a long time. Kidd mentioned that the city received funding for the Shelby Street project in 2005. That project involves widening the street and lowering hills between the elementary school and the Community Learning Center. Curbs, gutters and sidewalks are to be added.

"The first thing that will happen is some utility moving and that could happen this fall, October or November," Kidd said. "As far as construction, that's up to the contractor. The project has to be done by Sept. 30, 2013."

The Shelby Street project is to be funded by $1.35 million in federal funds with the city providing a 20 percent match. How much the city provides depends on construction costs.

The walking trail is to extend from Homer Street along Brock Creek to the soccer field then head west, tying into the Shelby Street Project. It is being funded by federal Transportation Enhancement Funds. The city was awarded $1 million for the project in 2006, but the project was scaled back because of concerns the city could not come up with the match. Plans for a northern segment have been eliminated; the city will have to come up with a $150,000 match.

There is no cost to the city for the Safe Routes to Schools project, which focuses on sidewalks. It begins at the intersection of St. Rd. 56 and Posey Street and proceeds north along Posey to its end, then heads west, crossing Harrison Street onto Shelby Street, continuing north along Shelby to the hospital. The project is to be funded by $244,000 federal grant.

Roy Carlsgaard, with IXOYE Trail and Greenways Engineering, has been involved with both Safe Routes to Schools and Shelby Street.

"As far as Shelby Street, it will be closed intermittently (during construction,)" he said. "Motorists will have to come in from the north or south, there will be a detour posted. We will coordinate that with the school and EMS."

She said once complete, residents will notice a big difference in that area.

"It's really going to open that corridor up, make it safer for the community, get pedestrians off the road," Kidd said. "There will be wider lanes, it will be a real benefit to the community."

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