Travelers on Atwater Street can expect some relief from bad road conditions in 2005.
Lake Orion Village Council members will probably OK a paving project for the busy road sometime this fall.
According to LO Village Manager JoAnn Van Tassel, a timeline has been drawn up to have bid requests go out late winter or early spring.
‘That’s when contractors are looking for work. Bids are more favorable to the village at the time,? she added.
Engineer Tom Biehl of Hubbell, Roth & Clark told council members on Sept. 13 Atwater is not a typical residential street. ‘It has a large volume of traffic,? he said.
Atwater was last resurfaced in 1990. According to Biehl, at that time one and a half inches of asphalt was put down. He recommended three inches of asphalt be used this time.
He said the traffic load had increased considerably since then. ‘If it’s done as it was before, it will start cracking in five to seven years. (With three inches) it will last 10-12 years, ‘Bell added.
This project is estimated to cost $126,000.
HRC also provided another more expensive option. Besides repaving Atwater, this option includes realigning Atwater from Perry to Orion Road eight to 10 feet to the south so it’s in the middle of the existing right-of-way. The extra work would increase the cost of the project to $378,200.
A new sidewalk is also proposed on the north side of the road.
Relocating the road at the east end would improve the site at the major intersection.
Biehl was asked if there was any funding available for Atwater, which is a county road.
He said no, funding support is usually given to larger roads. ‘If there was funding, you bet I would be going after it,? he told council members.
According to Van Tassel, because of the proposed sidewalk project the village has been talking for some time with the owner of the apartments near Paint Creek.
‘He’s losing trees as a screen and wanted to be given a six foot masonry wall as a screen. Doing the sidewalk and the screening is in the DDA’s (Downtown Development Authority) plan for this year,? she added, but it probably wouldn’t happen until next year .
Van Tassel said a preliminary agreement had been drawn up with the apartment owner, but nothing was signed yet.
Councilman Douglas Dendel said he’s in favor of straightening the road at the east end because of safety reasons.
Council members agreed to delay any decision of which option should be used for Atwater until the wall screening agreement has been signed with the apartment owner.