By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Underlying issues by the lake
26726a.jpg
Times photo: Tere Dunlap The Lakeside Heights lift station, scheduled for replacement, sits south of the neighborhood associations cabin at the end of Lake Drive cul-de-sac, southeast of Recreation Park. A city public works project to replace the 70-year-old lift station and force main was postponed to 2012 to address other water and sanitary sewer problems in the area. The city also plans to replace the street surface and install curb and gutter to control drainage and sediment.

http://www.facebook.com

MONROE - A city project to improve water, wastewater and streets in the Lakeside Heights subdivision, southeast of Recreation Park, is expected to begin in 2012.

Town & Country Engineering, Inc., Madison, engineers for the project, estimate preliminary construction costs for the project will be about $1.2 million.

The project includes water main, storm sewer and sanitary sewer replacements; street improvements; and a sanitary lift station replacement.

The project area will encompass all of Lake Drive; the east-west portion of Country Lane; 17th Street between Lake Drive and 22 1/2 Avenue; all of 22 1/2 Avenue; and 16th Street between 22 1/2 Avenue and 23rd Avenue.

Construction is estimated to last about four months. Depending on construction start date, the project will be substantially complete by late summer or early fall 2012, according to Water and Wastewater Director George Thompson.

Design plans will be completed and the project will be out for bids in January or February.

The water and wastewater portions of the project will be paid for from the utilities' funds set aside for this type of infrastructure replacement, Thompson said.

The costs for the street and storm water portions of the project are included in the city engineering department's proposed 2012 capital budget.

Thompson; Al Gerber, city engineering supervisor; and representatives from Town & Country Engineering, in preparing for the project, have been meeting with the city's Board of Public Works this past year.

The initial scope of the project was to replace a aged lift station and force water main, dating to about mid-1940s, and patch the street in the area.

In April, the board expanded the scope of the project, a decision approved by the Common Council, based on an increasing number of water main breaks in the area. Water Department supervisor Mike Kennison reported three problems in 2011 and two in 2010.

The project was broadened in area and scope to include replacing sanitary sewer and water mains and completely replacing street surfaces in the neighborhood. Plans for the street may include some tree removals, softening kinks in the road curves and replacing or repairing retaining walls.

Gerber also requested installing curb and gutter for better drainage and less sediment on 22 1/2 Avenue. That is estimated to cost an additional $40,000.

The board determined funds were not available in the sidewalk budget to include installing them in the project.

In May, Thompson requested the project be pushed to 2012, because of "a number of problems in that area." Water lines in the area were "like spaghetti," and Thompson recommended doing the force main first to keep pump station working.

Thompson and Gerber met with neighborhood residents in September to update them on the plans for next year.