At the Tuesday, May 15 Rushford Village Council meeting, a recently completed preliminary grading plan for the Benson Lane project was discussed. Acting Mayor Dennis Overland led the meeting and City Engineer Derek Olinger, of Bolton & Menk, led the discussion regarding the project.
The city is looking at two options to address water flow event issues at the dead end roadway. Unable to repair the “Missouri-style,” 30-inch culvert crossing as it currently sits and unable to pay the high cost of a bridge to serve just two residential properties on the lane, the city is planning on installing a sizeable culvert into the waterway.
The first option is the installation of a 12-foot by six-foot concrete box culvert. This meets the standards to handle a five-year storm event. Option two, the installation of an aluminum box culvert or aluminum arch culvert, would meet the standards for a 10-year storm event.
Preliminary grading plans call for the upstream channel to be lowered two feet to accommodate the new culverts. Additionally, the street crossing would be raised by three feet. “It’ll be quite a bit of difference between where the channel is now,” said Olinger.
On the west side of the crossing, at a fork in the road separating the two driveways, additional turn around room of approximately five feet will be created. “There’s a lot of riprap in here,” added Onlinger. “All new contours will have riprap and upstream there will be some as well to make sure those slopes are armored and don’t erode out.”
The plan will be submitted to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for any permitting requirements. Engineers hope no permitting will be required. “It’s our first shot,” noted Olinger. “There’s more design work to complete yet before discuss it with the DNR.”
Councilor Mike Ebner questioned whether plans are being made with regards to relocation of a gas line and telephone line in the area. Olinger clarified that the grading will extend 60 feet before the culvert and that the gas line will definitely need to be moved. He has discussed the matter with the gas company, but has not discussed the phone line yet with AcenTek. “I’m unsure if it will affect the cost at all. If it’s in the public roadway, it’s their cost,” said Olinger.
“Will the crossing still be overtopped in rain events?” asked Overland. The channel will carry capacity for a 5-10 year storm, depending on culvert specifications. A small concrete “V” notch in the center of the channel may be added to direct water.
A surveyor from Bolton & Menk is also working on determining Right of Way mapping and description. Once done, the city will be able to get signed agreements from the adjacent property owners. With the agreements in place, the surveyor will go back and formally set in-ground irons to match mapping and descriptions.
Olinger estimated it would cost between $5,500-6,000 to do the surveying work, plus city legal fees for the agreements.
While discussing road work, the council also took advantage of Olinger’s presence to discuss continued street maintenance, following projects in 2014, 2015, and 2016 on the city’s bituminous roadways. Most of the maintenance for the next five to seven years will likely be chip sealing and crack filling to preserve the new surfaces. Bolton & Menk estimates the entirety of seal and fill maintenance to be $140,000.
“The only caveat is that I want to drive the remainder of the roads to determine if it’s any better spent overlaying,” added Olinger. “Realistically, based on street ratings, it’s probably not going to be a whole lot more than what I’ve already figured out.” Main Street in South Rushford has been noted as having reflective cracking, but not cracking and shifting.
“Now is the time to start thinking about crack filling. Addressing the cracks early is the main goal,” he continued.
The city has gotten preliminary quotes on Main Street work, but it was suggested having contractors look at Darr Lane, the south end of Hillview Drive, and the Village Hall parking lot as well. Until further review, no action has been taken on maintenance work.
The next regularly scheduled council meeting is Tuesday, June 5, at 7 p.m., at the Village Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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