Work expected to begin soon on Highway 3, Business 75

Le Mars City Council members Tuesday awarded contracts for the widening of Highway 3 and rehabilitation of Business 75 through Le Mars.

Sioux City Engineering's $721, 701 bid for the Highway 3 project was less than 1 percent higher than the initial engineer's estimate of $715,865.

A maximum of $400,000 in federal funding will help pay for the project with the city's share of $314,000 plus engineering costs.

Out of Homer, Neb., TR Harris Construction Inc.'s $590,499 bid was accepted for Business 75 curb and gutter work. The bid compares with an engineer's estimate of $540,533.

Federal funding of $360,000 is expected with an additional $180,500 of local money used to complete the work.

Councilman Rex Knapp emphasized he felt the city needed to move forward with the rehabilitation work despite the higher than expected bid.

"It's a lousy project and awful job for anyone to take on," he said expressing concern that a delay at this time might mean a lack of bidders for the project at a later date

Fellow Councilman Ken Nelson agreed saying he felt the contractor would "earn every penny of his money" working the project.

City Administrator Scott Langel advised the council he will be meeting in the near future with Floyd Valley Hospital representatives concerning any project funding assistance now that the bid has been awarded.

He also reported the Iowa Department of Transportation officials denied the city's request for a change in detour routing for the Highway 3 project.

The DOT, Langel said, felt a detour option south and east of the city was "too costly and cumbersome." The route would have diverted heavy traffic from populated city areas. Additional study will be given he added to "rethinking" how to best utilize the original Plymouth Street detour.

Council members and Mayor Dick Kirchoff indicated the need for continued police surveillance on the detour route for safety of area residents. He also called for study of possible truck damage resulting from low hanging tree branches along the route.

Concern has also been expressed to prompt completion of both highway projects because of potential traffic problems during the Plymouth County Fair, July 29 to Aug. 2, and at the start up of school this fall.

The Highway 3 project is officially scheduled to begin no later than Aug. 24 and he Business 75 project will begin no later than Aug. 31. Both will have a 35-day working period.