Hazel Street improvements begin

Local News

Related Photos

Matt Huber

Discussion

March 5, 2010

BY JENNIFER BAILEY The Commercial-News Fri Mar 05, 2010, 11:56 PM CST

DANVILLE — Another sign of spring: construction projects sprouting up.

That’s the case downtown with the start this week of the Hazel Street downtown pedestrian access improvements.

City Engineer David Schnelle said as soon as winter weather broke, Big O Services of Tilton was to start on the project. Work this week included cuts to allow curb and sidewalk areas to be removed, and vault work, Schnelle said. The six vaults, under sidewalks, will be filled in and the walls will be strengthened.

“They’ll do the west side of the street first, then the east side later,” he said.

Schnelle said the sidewalks will be intermittently closed during the project.

Two-way traffic on Hazel Street will be maintained for a majority of the project, but there will be periods of time the street may be closed off at certain points, he added.

The city will keep the public posted. The project will continue until June.

There was some controversy with the project due to the city spending its gas tax funds on it, and the need for the project.

Schnelle said the Hazel Street project fulfills the intent of the gas tax funding for infrastructure improvements.

Schnelle said because of city-received stimulus funding, it’s freed up about $246,000 in Community Block Development Program funds and the city also had about $200,000 in additional local gas tax funds for the improvements.

The $408,025 contract with Big O Services is for the first phase of the Hazel Street pedestrian access improvements between North and Main streets.

The project involves replacing existing deteriorated sidewalk, and it also has been designed to improve the appearance of Hazel Street by:

-- Decreasing the pavement width by moving the existing curb lines in.

-- Installing plantings, trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, ground cover and grass in the newly created buffer strips by decreasing the width of Hazel Street.

-- Removing existing concrete and steel light poles and replace with ornamental style light poles matching those of Main and Vermilion streets.

-- Reworking the city-owned parking lot across the street from Vermilion Place to make it meet current landscaping ordinance requirements and ADA requirements.

-- Increasing the sidewalk width around Vermilion Place and the Gold Rush Pawn Shop to provide for their activities.

-- Creating pedestrian curb bump outs and cross walks at Van Buren to cross Hazel, and all four corners of North and Hazel streets.

-- Installing ADA curb ramps at all streets and alleys.

The initial project scope was just to remove and replace sidewalk.

Schnelle said after meeting with stakeholders in the downtown area, it was decided to make a “green” project by including the landscaping that will have the long-term impact of beautifying the street and improving the pedestrian experience.

Downtown property owner Marie Pribble has said she’s “thrilled” about the improvements.

Text Only

Local News

The very best gift
Lennell Dumas of Danville sorted through the stack of Valentine’s Day cards on his lap, a smile spreading across his face. “This is more than when I went to school,” he said jokingly.

February 14, 2012 1 Photo
Group restricts Jackson parking
Only one resident voiced concerns about prohibiting parking on Jackson Street, but aldermen said they’ve also received phone calls from other concerned residents and from parents who pick up children at Edison Elementary and North Ridge Middle schools.

February 14, 2012
County delays vote on farm
The decision to approve the permit for the second wind farm in Vermilion County was put on hold at Tuesday’s Vermilion County Board meeting.

February 14, 2012
Final report delayed on Vermilion Manor
No immediate decisions will be coming in regard to the future of Vermilion Manor Nursing Home.

February 14, 2012
Middle school students work to battle bullying
North Ridge Middle School seventh-grader Kevin Mallady promises that Thursday night’s performance of The Bully Project will be anything but “cheesy.”

February 14, 2012
Oakwood sets up TIF registry
Village trustees continued their drive Monday to create a second tax increment financing district.

February 14, 2012
Veedersburg considers another grant to improve downtown
Town council members heard Tuesday from Anita Carpenter about the Main Street revitalization grant to improve a section or block of infrastructure.

February 14, 2012
Justin Bieber makes dream come true for child with brain tumor
In August, Avalanna Routh "married" teen singing sensation Justin Bieber. This week, she finally got to meet her husband.

February 14, 2012 1 Photo
Viral video: Olympic swimmer wins gold, then proposes
How do you top the euphoria of winning a gold medal in a swim meet? Propose to your girlfriend, of course.

February 14, 2012 1 Photo
Class organizes fundraiser
February 14, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Related Photos

Discussion

Hazel Street improvements begin

Site Map

Contact Us