Work is expected to begin this fall on reconstruction projects for three blocks on the south end of Central Avenue.

The project involves work running from Third Street to Sixth Street and by late next spring a portion of the street should look fairly similar to the streetscaping design that is part of the northern section of the downtown street. Final completion is set for May 2018.

City Council earlier this month approved a contract for $939,000 for Watson Excavation for the project. Council also added a last minute addition that will add decorative street lights to the section of the street containing the median between Fourth and Fifth streets at an estimated cost of $20,000.

To allow flexibility, the project was bid to allow contractors until next spring to finish, Public Works Director Craig Workman explained.

“We saw a reduction in price,” he said. “We see about $100,000 in net savings to delay the completion of the project.”

Work between Fourth and Sixth will begin this year, but the contractor will be given additional time to finish the downtown shopping loop next spring.

Prior to approving the contract, Councilor Jen Frandsen asked about the schedule for street closures saying she’s concerned about how it might impact businesses if the project is not completed entirely this fall.

Workman said whether work is completed this fall or isn’t finished until next spring, there will be street closures in the area as work occurs.

“We have a specific traffic plan [that minimizes impact],” he said.

The cost of the project, as bid by LHC, Inc., for total completion by Nov. 10 was just over $1 million.

During public comment, Rhonda Fitzgerald said the median is in disrepair and the curb around it needs to be fixed, along with re-installing of historic street lights along that block.

“I understand that this is not a full rebuild, but this as close as this street will get in the next 20 years,” she said. “I hope you will return that block to its historic look.”

Council as part of the total project, approved an alternative bid package of about $28,000 that covers the cost of reconstruction of the median.

Councilor Richard Hildner said it is important with the $100,000 savings by allowing a longer construction timeline to do work on the median including adding the street lights.

“I think it’s smart to do that while we have the street torn up,” he said. “It’s attractive. It adds to downtown.”

The reconstruction of the block from Third to Fourth streets is set as a priority of the 2015 downtown master plan. This segment of the project involves a new roadway, curbside parking, sidewalk, and crosswalk enhancements including pedestrian bulbouts on the north side of Fourth Street. A stop sign will be added at Fourth Street.

From Fourth to Fifth streets the project involves replacement of the cast iron watermain along with roadway resurfacing. The ends of the median will be extended to provide pedestrian crossing improvements and sections of sidewalk will be replaced.

From Fifth to Sixth streets, the segment of the project involves the replacement of the cast iron watermain.