Frank Avenue could be under construction for five months and the boulevard may lose many of its trees, but the city Thursday assured residents the street will be much improved if street work is done, and promised to address their concerns about the construction.

Friday, January 19, 2001

Frank Avenue could be under construction for five months and the boulevard may lose many of its trees, but the city Thursday assured residents the street will be much improved if street work is done, and promised to address their concerns about the construction.

The proposed street reconstruction came under the scrutiny of the affected neighborhood when about 30 homeowners attended a neighborhood meeting to get more information on the upcoming project.

&uot;There will be some difficulties and inconveniences,&uot; said City Engineer Dave Olson. &uot;We’re going to do our best to answer everybody’s questions and address everyone’s concerns.&uot;

The five-month reconstruction project, the most expensive portion of the city’s $2.5 million street improvement plan for the year, will cost about $1.1 million according to preliminary estimates. Of that cost, about $300,000 will come from assessments.

Project engineer Jamie Mehle began the meeting with a brief overview of the construction plan. He said when the project is finished, Frank Avenue will have a new curb and gutter, sidewalks and driveway approaches from James Avenue to Seventh Street. Crews will also widen the street by six feet, providing enough room for two lane of traffic and two parking lanes.

The most expensive and time-consuming portion of the project, Mehle said, will be the replacement of city utilities under the street including the sanitary sewer main, the storm sewer main and the 94-year-old watermain.

During the replacement of the utilities, the city has decided to install road drain tile and sump pump service connections.

Unfortunately, many of the existing trees along the boulevards will be cut down during the project, said Mehle. The city park department will plant new trees when Frank Avenue is finished.

The residents asked questions about speeding traffic, weight restrictions, street signs, garbage pick-up, school-bus access and safety concerns during construction. Mehle and Olson had an answer to most of the questions and promised to find answers when they weren’t sure.

&uot;We did a similar project along Margaretha Avenue three years ago,&uot; said Olson. &uot;We dealt with a lot of these same concerns then.&uot;

Mehle said he received several phone calls from Frank Avenue homeowners in the past week, helping him prepare a question and answer handout for the neighborhood. Residents also had the opportunity to examine detailed scale drawings of the project.

&uot;I was able to anticipate some of the questions, but these people were very smart tonight. They brought up some issues to follow up on,&uot; Mehle said.

For example, one resident was concerned about the security of all the cars that will have to be parked on side streets for weeks at a time.

&uot;I leave for work at midnight, and I’m not looking forward to walking two blocks to my car,&uot; she said. &uot;It’s a legitimate safety concern.&uot;

Mehle promised to ask the police department about patrolling policies around street projects.

The next step for the Frank Avenue reconstruction project is March 12 when the city council will hold a public hearing on the preliminary assessments.

&uot;We’re hoping to start this project as soon as the weather allows,&uot; said Olson.