MONROE - Demolition work on the municipal parking ramp is nearing completion, and Director of Public Works Al Gerber said some money may even be saved to use toward additional parking projects throughout the city.
"I don't foresee any upcoming problems," Gerber said.
The cost of the project has totaled $586,500. That includes money the city borrowed, as well as projected construction costs. Gerber said barring any issues, $50,000 earmarked for contingency funding may be kept, as well as $64,000 in savings from the estimated total.
On March 6, work is scheduled to continue on the current pit sitting downtown where the municipal parking ramp once stood. Demolished at the end of last year, it has sat untouched for roughly three months with tarped fences surrounding the area of smashed cement, blocking the project from public view.
Terra Engineering and Construction Corp. of Madison will be back to remove the remaining structural components, the floor and basement walls, before further smashing the cement into smaller pieces. The crushed rocks will then be used as fill for the foundation of the new flat lot. Gerber estimated the project to be completed by mid-May, which includes paving the area and painting the lines for 68 parking stalls.
Demolition of the municipal ramp has been a contentious point for council members and the general public for years. After a number of discussions in which aldermen refused to vote on whether to demolish the ramp outright or build a new parking structure, the council on Nov. 15 approved its demolition.
Alderman Tom Miller has voiced his opposition to the lack of a downtown parking ramp. Miller told fellow council members after the decision had been made to raze the municipal ramp that the downtown would be effectively "killed" as a result.
In January, Main Street Monroe shared plans for beautification of the soon-to-be flat lot that included landscaping around the perimeter and a brick sign clearly identifying the parking area for the public. Miller voiced support for this idea during the meeting on Feb. 15.
"For at least three years, it'd be nice to see something there besides asphalt," Miller said. "I'd like to make it look nice right away."
Miller said three years was an estimate but assumed it would take at least that much time for the council to make a decision and construction to begin on a new ramp.
Gerber cautioned the council on including landscape around the replacement lot if plans were still being considered to build a new municipal ramp. He said to weigh how much money the city would like to spend on beautification if plants and structures installed in a surface lot were torn out in a few years to rebuild a ramp.
The council plans to vote on a replacement lot in the third fiscal quarter of this year.
"I don't foresee any upcoming problems," Gerber said.
The cost of the project has totaled $586,500. That includes money the city borrowed, as well as projected construction costs. Gerber said barring any issues, $50,000 earmarked for contingency funding may be kept, as well as $64,000 in savings from the estimated total.
On March 6, work is scheduled to continue on the current pit sitting downtown where the municipal parking ramp once stood. Demolished at the end of last year, it has sat untouched for roughly three months with tarped fences surrounding the area of smashed cement, blocking the project from public view.
Terra Engineering and Construction Corp. of Madison will be back to remove the remaining structural components, the floor and basement walls, before further smashing the cement into smaller pieces. The crushed rocks will then be used as fill for the foundation of the new flat lot. Gerber estimated the project to be completed by mid-May, which includes paving the area and painting the lines for 68 parking stalls.
Demolition of the municipal ramp has been a contentious point for council members and the general public for years. After a number of discussions in which aldermen refused to vote on whether to demolish the ramp outright or build a new parking structure, the council on Nov. 15 approved its demolition.
Alderman Tom Miller has voiced his opposition to the lack of a downtown parking ramp. Miller told fellow council members after the decision had been made to raze the municipal ramp that the downtown would be effectively "killed" as a result.
In January, Main Street Monroe shared plans for beautification of the soon-to-be flat lot that included landscaping around the perimeter and a brick sign clearly identifying the parking area for the public. Miller voiced support for this idea during the meeting on Feb. 15.
"For at least three years, it'd be nice to see something there besides asphalt," Miller said. "I'd like to make it look nice right away."
Miller said three years was an estimate but assumed it would take at least that much time for the council to make a decision and construction to begin on a new ramp.
Gerber cautioned the council on including landscape around the replacement lot if plans were still being considered to build a new municipal ramp. He said to weigh how much money the city would like to spend on beautification if plants and structures installed in a surface lot were torn out in a few years to rebuild a ramp.
The council plans to vote on a replacement lot in the third fiscal quarter of this year.