By BRADEN LAMMERS
Braden.Lammers@newsandtribune.com
CHARLESTOWN —
The city of Charlestown, with the help of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, has begun construction on sidewalks along Ind. 3.
Charlestown received $1 million for the project that will replace, widen and repair 3,200 feet of sidewalks from Water Street to Park Street, including the installation of benches, trash cans and lights along the newly constructed walkway.
While phase one is under way, two additional phases likely will be needed to complete a project that would extend the sidewalks to St. Catherine Regional Hospital off of Ind. 3.
“The next phase depends on the funding mechanism that we use, but it will probably be in three phases,” said Mayor Bob Hall.
The city will look to secure additional federal money if it is available for the following phases of the project, but it is still in the process of acquiring right-of-way rights and costs are unknown, said Executive Director of Community Services David Flowe.
Possibilities for funding include money that may be available through the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian program for trail construction.
Charlestown previously was awarded two $1 million grants for trail construction, according to Hall.
“It is still [part of] the sidewalk program,” he said. “It’s used for the same thing.”
Additional money may be available because costs are coming in lower than expected.
For the first phase of the project, Indianapolis-based Hunt Paving Corp.’s bid came in at $580,286, well below the engineers estimate of $795,000.
According to an ARRA progress form, eight jobs are directly attributable for this phase of construction, which is expected to be completed by summer.
Flowe said the project should be finished on or before Charlestown’s Founders Day celebration June 25 and 26.
