Hamlet officials continue working toward potential upgrades to Railroad Street. The town council has decided to pursue funding for the work in this year’s round of Community Crossings grants. But first, they have to know how much it will cost.
A general notice to contractors hasn’t generated much of a response, so engineer Lee Nagai has developed more detailed bid specifications. “Bottom line is from Starke Street for the first two blocks to Hamlet Street . . . what I figured was some milling and building that street back to that 36-foot width,” he told council members Wednesday. “I also talked about replacing sidewalk as needed on the south side, and so those quantities are in there, as well.”
West of Hamlet Street, the road would narrow to 24 feet, up from its current width of about 20 feet. “I’ve included items like adjusting manholes up or down because that’s going to have to be done,” Nagai said. “I’ve included handicap ramps on the sidewalk on each block, and I’ve included work at the Legion for their driveway, so that they’re not left high and dry. I suppose they would like to be high and dry. Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to guarantee that you won’t have water down at that end of the street, but that is what it is.” The project would also restore some gravel parking areas along the west end of Railroad Street.
Nagai broke the work down by line item for each block. That will let council members decide how much of the road to do, based on the bid amounts.
The town council agreed to let Nagai proceed with putting together a notice for bidders. Bids will be opened during a special town council meeting on Friday, September 7 at 4:00 p.m. The Community Crossings grant applications are due on September 28. If bids are received and funding is awarded, the Railroad Street work will begin next spring.
