City plans for partial reconstruction of several west central streets

By Brandi Makuski

The city will hire a local engineering firm to redesign parts of several streets near the Stevens Point Co-op, if an Oct. 8 decision by the board of public works is finalized at next week’s city council meeting.

A total of .91 miles on portions of five different streets is planned for reconstruction as a part of the city’s 2019 capital budget.

Public Works Director Scott Beduhn said with staff already stretched thin in his department, he felt the roads identified were the “most pressing” in that area of the city, and Stevens Point was getting the best bang for its buck by placing all of the roadway sections within the same project.

The board of public works on Monday unanimously approved hiring Stevens Point-based Gremmer & Associates, at a cost not to exceed $137,910, to create blueprints for the new sections of roadway and underground utilities.

“We felt it was a very good proposal at a very desirable price,” Beduhn said.

Gremmer would draw up utility cross-sections, Beduhn said, and handle a detailed process that involves soil borings, working with the Digger’s Hotline to locate buried pipes or wires, and permit acquisition from the Dept. of Natural Resources for water and sewer replacement, along with drawing roadway features including roadway, right-of-way, and curb and gutter.

Once the blueprints are complete, the project will go out to bid, he said, likely in February.