Plans for Hamlet’s Railroad Street project appear to be back on track. The town council Wednesday directed Engineer Lee Nagai to seek updated bids for the work, as part of a planned Community Crossings project. Council members decided to remove sidewalk improvements from the project scope, but keep in a possible storm drain extension as a potential option.
Several local residents were in attendance Wednesday to give their input. Council members explained that the choice was to repave the full length of Railroad Street that they had originally planned without sidewalk improvements or do a shorter piece with the sidewalk. The residents didn’t seem to have much of a preference.
The bigger concern was with the town’s plan to widen the street, as part of the project. Council members explained that the goal wasn’t to significantly change the width of the street, but to bring it up to a standard, consistent width. Gravel parking areas would also be restored.
In any case, Council Member Brian Earnest felt the town could fund the sidewalk work itself at some point in the future, while the road work needed the outside funding. “It’s not guaranteed money every year,” he said. “It is if we get approved, it’s approved for this year. Doesn’t mean it’ll be approved for next year. And if we go and do half the road this year and then don’t get approved, who knows when we’ll have the money to do the other half because we don’t out of our own money without the grant, that’s for sure.”
If Hamlet’s grant application is approved, the Indiana Department of Transportation would cover 75 percent of the construction cost. Town officials hope construction would be able to take place this summer or fall, but it could end up being pushed back to 2020, if necessary, to avoid impacting harvest traffic.
