JACKSON PAVING WORK HAS ANOTHER SETBACK

JACKSON -- The paving contractor on the West Main Street Improvement Project got more bad news Monday.

Acting City Engineer Rich Bowen told the Jackson Board of Aldermen Monday that a 300-foot section of the bad pavement in the vicinity of Lenco, Inc. will have to be torn out, including the parking area.

That is in addition to replacement of the center portion of defective pavement on the south side of West Main.

"We're going to have to tear out the center portion of the pavement from Missouri Avenue back to the Hubble Creek Bridge in order to get a good grade and not have the same thing happen on the other side of the street," Bowen said. "In addition, about 300 feet of pavement, from near Oklahoma Street westward, will have to be torn out completely, even the parking area. Hopefully, we can salvage the curb and gutter in that 300-foot section.

"With the differential in those grades, relative to what it should have been, there's no way to improve it. There's a pretty good bump right in that area."

Bowen said the contractor, SIS, Inc., of Creal Springs, Ill., was scheduled to return to work today. He said removal of the defective pavement should begin today. At the same time, form and sub-grade work will also start for the westbound lane of Main Street.

Despite the delay caused by the defective pavement, Bowen said the project could still be completed by the start of the community's Homecomers celebration, now 15 days away.

"I can see all of this happening prior to Aug. 11, but it's only going to happen if the contractor puts a lot more people on the job," said Bowen.

An unknown factor could be the weather. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast this week. Bowen said one or two rainy days would not affect the paving schedule, but a series of rainy days this week could cause a delay in completing the work by Aug. 11.

Bowen said that when the work resumes, through traffic will have to be blocked while removal of the bad pavement is under way. However, a flagman will be posted to allow local access to businesses along West Main.

On another matter, Bowen said it will not be possible to complete the Greensferry Road sight distance project (near Clark Street) before the start of school.

In other business, the board approved the apparent low bid of Lappe Concrete and Cement Finishing for paving of 1,300 feet of Litz Park Road. The Lappe bid was $37,662, slightly less than the engineer's estimate of about $38,000.

The board approved a resolution for the improvement of one block of White Oak. The project will be paid by tax bills. Property owners will have the opportunity to pay for the paving on a 10-year installment program.

Alderman David Ludwig asked if the traffic signals at West Jackson Boulevard (Highway 72) and West Lane will be installed before the start of school next month. City Administrator Carl Talley said that will be up to the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department.