Aldermen taking first steps to widen West Jackson

Jackson's Board of Aldermen will entertain the first contract bid to relocate utilities tonight, an important step in the widening of West Jackson Boulevard, or Highway 34/72.

Last week, the Missouri Department of Transportation issued Jackson a notice to proceed, meaning MoDOT has finalized the condemnation process on the first phase of the widening, from Hope to Main.

The original deadline put out by the Missouri Department of Transportation for the utility relocation was Jan. 1 of this year. However, MoDOT got hung up in the condemnation process, which pushed back the schedules.

The first bid is from Power Line Consultants of Farmington for $184,000. This bid is to relocate the electric utilities only. Moving the water and sewer lines will cost much more. The city has estimated the relocation costs to approach $1 million.

Don Schuette, Jackson's director of electric utilities, said the contractor could begin work as early as this week or early next week and said he hopes to have the lines moved by June.

Rodney Bollinger, public works director, said the city advertised for bids this week on the sewer and water line relocation and will open bids on April 8. The digging should begin in late April and Bollinger said the goal is to get the water and sewer lines moved by the middle of June.

Several other items on Monday night's agenda deal with the 34/72 project, as well.

All of the electric poles, sewer and water lines will fit in a six-foot easement provided by MoDOT, Bollinger said. However, a few "guy" wire and tree trimming easements were needed before relocation could begin.

The overall 34/72 widening project will extend from Hope all the way out to the 34/72 junction outside Jackson's city limits.

The board of aldermen will also consider several other easements and right-of-way issues at tonight's meeting, including land acquisitions related to the Farmington/Route D intersection improvement and the second phase of the East Main Street Extension project.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635