The $3.7 million downtown Albert Lea streetscape project inched one step closer to becoming a reality on Monday.

The Albert Lea City Council approved soliciting proposals from engineering firms for the project. The work calls for the reconstruction of Broadway Avenue from Main Street to Fountain Street.

The work calls for renovation to go from building to building. That means the sidewalks, street, concrete, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, watermain, lighting and landscaping, along with improvements to Fountain Lake Park at the north end of Broadway Avenue, will be new.

Sixth Ward Councilor Minnow Brooks questioned the need for a firm to review and lead the project, saying city staff can do it.

Albert Lea Mayor Vern Rasmussen replied by saying a firm will help city leaders get a better idea of what it would cost. He said it would have cost the city staff too much time and energy to engineer the project on their own.

City Engineer Steven Jahnke said the engineering firm chosen would look at the plans put together by Minneapolis architect Pat Waddick and would have to complete environmental paperwork to get the project ready.

“It’s essentially going to be three people full time most of the second half of 2012 looking at this,” Jahnke said.

Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker said having the request for proposals completed would make the city better situated to apply for grants and other funding.

The concrete surface and underground utilities of the street were constructed in 1933, with the street being overlaid in 1956, 1975 and 2002. The existing downtown sidewalks were installed in 1975.

While a major part of the project is renovation of the utilities, street and sidewalk, the project also calls for filling in the abandoned underground steam tunnels, installing pavement markings, installing new decorative lighting, installing streetscape elements such as benches and landscaping, and other aesthetic improvements.

Proposals also include improvements to Fountain Lake Park and the construction of a pedestrian plaza on William Street east of Broadway Avenue.

City leaders hope to get a more firm cost estimate for the project by February 2012 to apply for state bonding funds. There would be a public comment period in May and June with a minimum of four public meetings to seek input.

The project would begin in spring 2013.