Woodbury begins planning for next year’s road construction season

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Months before wrapping up this construction season, Woodbury engineers have already started planning for the next one.

Road construction in 2013 won’t be as big this year, but it will include Century Avenue and a few older streets.

The $3.6 million proposed roadway rehabilitation project also includes Thames Road, Victoria Heights, Victoria Place, Tahoe Road, Carver Park Drive and Circle, Rolling Acres and Glen Road.

A combination of full-depth mill and overlays, minor curb and gutter repairs and minor storm and sanitary sewer repairs are in the plans.

Since Century Avenue borders Newport and Woodbury, each city would split the anticipated $300,000 improvement cost.

Woodbury had approached Newport about the project in 2010 to fund their $75,000 portion, but the city was unable to, according to Woodbury staff.

This year, however, “They are actually optimistic they’re going to get their share included,” City Engineer Klayton Eckles told Woodbury City Council at a July 24 workshop.

If Newport isn’t able to fund its share of $150,000 this year, staff gave council a few options to choose from.

Council Member Amy Scoggins was in favor of an option that would only fix the eastern half of Century Avenue, which leaves the west side for Newport to maintain and rehabilitate in the future.

Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens was “intrigued” by an option that would give ownership of the entire road to Woodbury, which would have to detach the street and adjacent properties from Newport and absorb them into Woodbury.

“That would clear up many issues associated with maintenance on a road that fronts two separate jurisdictions,” a staff report stated.

The council encouraged engineers to continue discussions with Newport and come up with an agreement and a solution to fix Century Avenue.

The 2013 construction project is part of a five-year roadway rehabilitation plan Woodbury is implementing.

The plan shows which developments and streets are expected to be fixed in the near future, which helps outline funding sources and schedule routine maintenance accordingly.

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