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Streetscape update, week seven

| September 29, 2010 11:11 AM

After seven weeks of construction, streetscape has made its way down Main Street in Polson. Here is an update as of week seven:

-Paving has been finished to 5th Ave.

-Curb and gutter has been installed to 4th Ave.

-Sidewalks have been poured to 6th Ave. Some hand concrete work will continue in areas requiring detail, such as lighting bases.

-The public parking lot on 5th will be paved this week weather permitting - though it will still be in use to varying degrees as a lay down area throughout the project.

-Paving will be extended to 4th Ave. 6 this week, weather permitting.

-6th Ave. to 1st Street West (strip where waterline was replaced) will be paved this week, time and weather permitting.

-Sidewalks will be poured to 5th Ave. this week, weather permitting.

-Third Avenue to 2nd Ave (HWY 93) will be closed this week, starting late Sunday night. They plan on working on services first - taking out only sidewalk sections necessary to deal with utility services. Sidewalks will likely be taken out mid to late week. The City will update stores on timing. A cordoned-off walking surface will be provided in place of sidewalks when they are taken out.

-The intersection of 3rd and Main will be open for the Farmers Market this Friday.

-Striping between 7th and 6th and possibly 5th is planned for this week, weather permitting. We will push to open those streets as quickly as possible once striping has been com-pleted.

-The project is on budget and on schedule. We are pushing to finish early - hopefully by late October.

-Ron Melvin is contacting property owners to finalize waterline sizes and entry-way decisions. Remember, the City is willing to set up a payment plan to make it work for businesses that may need a larger service sometime in the future. The cost is nominal now. It will be several tens of thousands of dollars later.

Finally, a note on safety from Polson City Manager Todd Crossett: Cooperation from the public on the safety program is deteriorating rapidly. The City of Polson realizes it is an inconvenience to go out and around in order to cross the street. However, the city simply cannot tolerate pedestrians (and yes even motor vehicles) traveling through the construction zone outside of designated areas. The city has numerous pieces of heavy equipment being operated at the same time, in a small space and by multiple companies. Operators look for people in orange in construction areas, and they expect them to behave and travel in a manner that is predictable to them. They do not key in on people in regular dress weaving in and out of working crews and equipment. That is how people get killed. It is a very serious, and the city simply cannot tolerate it. The city cannot accept that level of risk and liability. The city does not want to shut the street down completely because of the negative impact that action would have on business, but if the city is to keep the sidewalk areas open, they need cooperation. Businesses, the city needs your help. Please help avoid completely shutting down the whole street so that we can maintain Main Street access for your customers.

-Courtesy of Polson City Manager Todd Crossett