By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Plans for Whitewater’s imminent East Gateway project continue to take shape, following a recent series of motions made by city officials.
The Common Council on April 15 voted in favor of three separate city staff requests that set the stage for the upcoming project. It involves reconstructing Milwaukee Street to Wisconsin Street and a three-way intersection that conjoins with Whitewater and Main streets.
East Gateway work is expected to take place over a four- to six-week period this summer.
The trio of recent motions includes the acceptance of a $1.77 million bid with Lake Mills-based Forest Landscaping and Construction for the actual construction of the project. Forest was the lowest of three bidders.
Forest’s bid includes all underground infrastructure for new decorative street lighting that will be installed along the city streets. Actual installation of the street lights and poles will be handled internally by city staff.
Assistant City Manager Christopher McDonnell said a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will help defray some of the costs of the project – up to $115,591 of the work – to address the disposal of contaminated soils.
The council also approved the purchase of new decorative streetlights within the scope of the project. Waukesha-based Enterprise Lighting is being tapped to provide 29 LED lights to the city at a cost of $69,295.
Lastly, the council voted in favor of amending a previous agreement with engineering firm Strand and Associates for a final review of the East Gateway site. The company has long been involved in the preliminary stages of the project.
According to terms of the amended agreement, Strand’s additional services could cost upwards of $193,250, though that figure is an estimate.
The extensive East Gateway work will include revamping one intersection that has been deemed awkward in its current configuration. Eastbound traffic along Main Street is being eliminated as part of the plans.
Pedestrian-friendly touches are part of the plans, as are streetscaping enhancements to help beautify the area.
The city’s East Gateway region was last updated in 1979.
