Harris Street reconstruction and 4th Street storm-sewer work under way; Sims intersection closed about a month

Matthew provided progress updates on two EDC-funded projects during the April 20 meeting.

On Harris Street, Matthew said phase 1 landscaping has mobilized and that phase 2 bids opened on March 31; he said the city council is expected to act on the new contract at its next meeting and staff hope a notice to proceed will follow in late April or May. Matthew said payments to the prior contractor (DG Medina) are nearly complete with only retainage negotiations remaining.

For the Downtown Eastside drainage and 4th Street work, Matthew said the contractor mobilized several weeks earlier and is installing a storm sewer box from the tributary up to the Sims intersection, noting a few utility conflicts remain to be resolved. He said the intersection is currently closed for storm sewer work and that closure will "probably last about a month." After the storm sewer installation the contractor will pave from Houston to Sims before moving on to the next segment toward Wilson.

Board members used the update to ask whether funding limits or the EDC's budget authority would change; staff responded that projects are proceeding within the existing budget parameters but would inform the board if anything changed.