The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission members considered a pre-design contract this week in order to conduct surveys in the Pioneer Drive project.
The project would include improved drainage and widening a portion of the road to three lanes to accommodate an increase in truck traffic in that area north of U.S. 30.
City Engineer Rick Gaul said Lochmueller Group Project Manager Ryan Clark would assist with coordinating the geotechnical work and preliminary designs in anticipation of construction in 2020. Survey work will begin in November with geotechnical investigations in December. That information can be put into an application for INDOT’s Community Crossings Funding. The city can apply for the maximum amount of $1 million with a city match of $1 million.
The city would need to provide funding for a contract to complete the design of the project.
Clark mentioned that soils are a concern in that area and five or six borings will be done at a depth of 15 feet to test those soils to determine what type of sub-base and sub-grade treatments are needed.
“That could be some sort of chemical treatment in place, that could be removing a foot or two feet of material and replacing it with engineered materials, or they could come up with some other recommendation,” said Clark.
Gaul stressed that the design work will allow the city to determine how much of the project can be done with Community Crossings funding, if approved. The project will begin on the north portion of Pioneer Drive near 7B Road by Pretzels, Inc. as that area has the highest priority.
The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission approved the contract for design and survey work to begin.
