The City of Plymouth is planning some road repair projects, as part of Indiana’s Community Crossings matching grant program. City Engineer Rick Gaul told the Board of Works Monday the city already has an asset management plan for its roads, but it’s currently being updated to match the program’s requirements.
He says he’s also been working with Street Superintendent Jim Marquardt to come up with a list of projects, “Essentially, we’re going to have to have varied treatment in it, reconstruction, which we may not be doing, but a structural mill fill, which is where you patch and then you’ll put possibly a two-inch overlay over the top of your asphalt, mill fill overlay, which is basically one inch laying over the top. You don’t do patching or anything like that.” Gaul says seal coating is also being considered as a less expensive option.
For the local share of the funding, Plymouth has the option to use over $500,000 the city received as part of the Local Option Income Tax distribution from the state, as well as money from its Rainy Day Fund.
Also during Monday’s meeting, the Board of Works voted to seek bids for microsurface and slurry seal projects. Marquardt says he’s selected some roads that will benefit from the work. “We’re looking to try to do a project with microsurfacing on South Michigan,” he says. “And then go ahead and do a slurry seal, which we looked at a couple subdivisions out in Eastwood, which we crack sealed it last year. So this gives it another little surface coat and seals stuff better, and when we look at the rating numbers for those roads, those would be good for those. We’re thinking this is going to be $100,000.”
Gaul also gave board members an update on some projects that are currently in the planning stages. He said an application has been submitted for INDOT funding for future improvements to Hoham Drive, and a project presentation will be given to INDOT toward the end of the month. If approved, the project would add center turn lanes and intersection improvements to Hoham Drive from Michigan Street to just west of Western Avenue.
Gaul says the city is currently waiting for approval of environmental documents for the second phase of the Greenway Trail. The board also voted to proceed with a $25,500 contract with Donohue & Associates for a warrant analysis, preliminary engineering report, and survey for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Oakhill Avenue and Michigan Street, near Webster Elementary School. If the project moves along according to plan, it would get underway next year.
