WM street projects moving along

WM street projects moving along

City Engineer offers updates

news@theeveningtimes.com

Road reports drove City Engineer Phillip Sorrell’s monthly recap during the October installment of the West Memphis Public Works Committee meeting. Sorrell noted progress on road projects in the city, and addressed striping concerns brought forward by a citizen.

Commissioners heard the latest about the new South- land Drive extension, the Hino Road bridge upgrade project and a request for better signs and stripes on Mound City Road. City Councilman noticed the new overlay on the service road in front of Walmart.

Sorrell provided the run down during the Oct. 4 Public Works meeting.

Southland Drive represents the biggest project underway. Persistent precipitation this year made for slow progress when construction started but the City Engineer indicated roadwork would finish as originally scheduled.

“We’ve started pouring concrete,” said Sorrell.

“The westbound lane is all poured out. Eastbound lanes will start tomorrow. It will take a week to pour it out. At that point we will do the shoulders, cleanup and plant grass. It will hopefully finish by the end of the month.”

The Hino Road bridge needs a stronger deck. The deck visibly shakes under full speed container loads.

Reduced speeds and speed humps along the road serve to reduce the dynamic load on the bridge until the paper work for the upgrade is approved by the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department. “We are awaiting final plan approval from AHTD,” said Sorrell. “We did get the project funds obligated with them. The environmental review has been completed. Once we get final plan approval we will look at establishing bid dates.

A citizen asked for better stripes and signs on the Mound City Road curve inside city limits. Sorrell said the lane paint needed a touch up but did not create a danger. He looked over the three mile stretch from the BNSF crossing north to the Wheeler Road curve.

“We put signage up out there in both directions,” said Sorrell. “The striping required is several miles exceeds our capabilities in house. I’ve got other streets next year that need it too so I’ll include that in the budget.”

City Councilors noted the new overlay in front of Walmart.

“The Highway Department is doing extensive work in front of Walmart,” reported Sorrell. “They are looking at that road all the way to 7th Street.”

By John Rech