COUNCIL BLUFFS — Work should start in June on the next phases of two sewer projects in Council Bluffs.
One of them involves work in the South First Street neighborhood, from Pierce Street on the north to Palmer Avenue on the south, from First Street on the west to Franklin Avenue on the east.
“Most of this area doesn't have storm sewers, and there have been drainage issues,” said City Engineer Matt Cox.
This year's phase will involve reconstruction of Franklin between Pierce and Beach Streets, Platner and Carson Streets between Franklin and Grace Street, and Grace Street between Platner and Carson.
“This is just Phase Two,” Cox said. “There are 10 phases lined up.”
The first phase involved reconstruction of portions of Knepper, Damon, Hill, Stutsman and Langstrom Streets.
The City Council this week approved the plans and cost estimate — $1 million to be paid from general obligation bonds.
This project brought city officials and neighborhood residents together recently at Broadway United Methodist Church to discuss concerns, especially parking and daily access.
The city will not close the entire project area, but only one block, maybe less, at a time, Cox said. Affected residents will be able to park their vehicles within a block or so of their homes during the closure time, he said.
The other project involves another phase of the 13th Street sanitary sewer system, which collects two-thirds of the sewage in the Indian Creek basin.
This phase calls for reconstruction of 13th Street between 16th Avenue north into the rail yard south of 10th Avenue. The council also approved this project; the $800,000 budget will come from sales tax revenue.
Contracts for both projects should be awarded May 23, with the work to be completed this year, Cox said.
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