By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Following reconstruction of Allen Street this year, the next priority street construction project for the city of Hays is to reconstruct portions of Ash Street, Fourth Street, and Elm Street near Fort Hays State University’s Lewis Field Stadium.
It’s one of the older residential areas of Hays, and is past the point of spot maintenance according to John Braun, city project manager.
The project is included in the Capital Improvement Plan for 2019, budgeted at $1.64 million. Water Resources and Storm Water funds are available for associated water line and storm sewer improvements.
City commissioners Thursday night approved the $39,185 low bid for engineering design by Driggs Design Group of Hays and Manhattan. It will be funded from Commission Capital Reserves.
The total project length is approximately 3,100 linear feet and includes removing and replacing pavement with 8 inches of reinforced concrete; removing and replacing areas of failed curb and gutter; upgrading sidewalks and curb ramps as necessary to meet ADA requirements; remove and replace or rehab storm sewer inlets along the project; upgrade approximately 1,100 feet of old 4-inch water main to new 8-inch water main along Ash Street; and extend new waterline connections under the new pavement at other locations along Elm Street.
“The road widths would remain the same,” said Braun, “but the intersection geometrics would be improved, particularly [the curb radius] at Fifth and Elm, giving more room for traffic to get through around that curve.”
The city has had preliminary discussions with Fort Hays State about converting existing parallel parking to angle parking on the west side of Elm between 4th and Lewis Drive.
“Should Fort Hays want to proceed with that, they would cover the extra costs of [pavement] making that conversion,” Braun told commissioners. FHSU has estimated it would gain 8 extra parking spaces.
Because the project is near the university and there is a high density of housing rented by students in the area, construction would take place during the summer between late May and early August.
Vice-Mayor Henry Schwaller was absent from the meeting.