MT. VERNON - After years of planning and design, the extensions of Veterans Memorial Drive and South Davidson Avenue are being bid.
"At long last," Mayor Mary Jane Chesley said. "I've been anxious for this one to happen."
The contract for engineering of the project was awarded in 2010, to Henry, Meisenheimer & Gende, Inc. The project calls for a 5,355 foot extension of Veterans Memorial Drive beyond Wells Bypass in its present five-lane construction to intersect with an extension of South Davidson Avenue in its present three-lane construction. Sidewalks, storm sewer and curbs/gutters are included in the project plans. The pre-bid estimate for the project is $5 million, with $4 million in state funding.
In addition to the roadway extensions, the council has also approved going out for bids on a water main extension along the roadways and a sanitary sewer extension and lift station.
"We would like to be able to open the bids at a special meeting in late April," City Manager Ron Neibert said. "We usually have a special meeting at the end of the month to approve the new budget. Because there are five Mondays in April, there is no way to have the information to present by the second meeting in April, and that would put the award out three more weeks before another council meeting."
Neibert said once the project is bid and construction started, it would take about 12 to 15 months for completion.
Councilman Todd Piper pointed out the extension projects will open about 600 additional acres for development in the area, which has already been designated as a tax increment finance district. Chesley also added the extension project will move some traffic off Wells Bypass, Potomac and Broadway.
Capital funds and capital public utility funds will be used to for the water and sewer portions of the project, which are estimated at about $2 million.
