Mention brick streets in a community, and they immediately bring back a sense of nostalgia. They also pose a hard question to city leaders.
The city has a Street Rehab Brick Street public meeting at 6 pm May 29 at White Auditorium City Conference Room 1AB. This will involve an overview of the schedule for work on East 10th between Mechanic and Union as well as East 11th between Mechanic and Market.
City Engineer Jim Ubert, a guest on KVOE’s Morning Show recently, says the city plans to pave over these brick streets, and the reason is simple: cost.
The city has averaged spending almost $42,000 per block the past six years with is asphalt Street Rehab program. Replacing brick streets costs over $305,000 a block.
The May 29 meeting will also involve a look at the project scope and potential impacts to drivers and nearby residents.
Concerned residents introduced a brick street preservation policy back in 1988 due to their historical significance. The policy was adjusted in 2011 to develop a list of streets that were recommended to stay brick-paved. There are 10 such streets now:
1. Union Street from 11th Avenue to the BNSF
2. East 5th Avenue from Market Street to Cottonwood Street
3. East 8th Avenue from Union Street to Cottonwood Street
4. East 9th Avenue from Mechanic Street to Exchange Street
5. East 10th Avenue from Mechanic Street to Exchange Street
6. East 11th Avenue from Mechanic Street to Union Street
7. South Neosho Street from South Avenue to Randolph Avenue
8. Washington Street from 12th Avenue to 15th Avenue
9. Berkeley Road from Sherwood Way to 18th Avenue
10. Rural Street from 15th Avenue to 18th Avenue
The remaining 16 blocks of streets were not listed, but the city policy allows them to either be maintained as brick or rebuilt with asphalt, brick or concrete, depending on funding and street condition.
These streets are not part of the city’s annual Street Rehab program, which now involves over 20 street segments, concrete curb and gutter, sidewalks and handicapped-accessible ramps between the core project and two sets of alternatives. Work should begin by early June.
Street Rehab 2024 work zones: Base bid
*Second Avenue: East Street to Cottonwood Street; State Street to Rural Street
*10th Avenue: Peyton Street to Topeka Street
*11th Avenue: Rural Street to West Street
*Chestnut Street: End of Road to Fifth Avenue
*Lincoln Street: Fourh Avenue to Sixth Avenue
*Mayfair Street: Sherwood Way to 18th Avenue
*Oakes Drive: Graphic Arts to Pet Food Entrance
*Peyton Street: Sixth Avenue to 12th Avenue
*Prairie Street & Tyson Access Roads: Bridge to Tyson plant entrance
*Rural Street: Second Avenue to End of Road/Railroad
*Sherwood Way: Washington Pk. to 18th Avenue
*Washington Street: Sixth Avenue to Seventh Avenue; 15th Avenue to Sherwood Way
There are also two sets of additions as part of contract alternates:
Alternate One
*Lincoln Street: Seventh Avenue to Ninth Avenue
*Wheeler Street: 15th Avenue to 18th Avenue
*Whittier Street: Riley Street to 300 feet south of the Lift Station
Alternate Two
*Arundel Street: Ninth Avenue to Dead End
*Chestnut Street: Ninth Avenue to 15th Avenue
*C of E Drive: Kenyon Square Apartments to 12th Avenue
*Lawrence Street: Sixth Avenue to 12th Avenue
*Oak Street: Ninth Avenue to 11th Avenue
*Walnut Street: Sixth Avenue to 9th Avenue
