17-04-2025
Ottumwa council approves roads projects on Mary, Washington streets
OTTUMWA — When it comes to streets, the money doesn't go very far, councilmember Cara Galloway noted Tuesday as the Ottumwa City Council approved two street reconstruction projects.
Between the two projects, costs are expected to exceed $3.5 million total. That cost will cover new pavement, a new turn lane, and work to underground utilities on Mary and Washington streets. Ultimately, the work will cover less than five city blocks in all.
"I think it's important for the public to understand that [the public works department] is working to fix roads, fix our sewers, but our money only goes so far," Galloway said.
The council voted to accept the lowest received bid from Jones Contracting out of West Point related to the Mary Street reconstruction project, which came in about $600,000 under the engineer's estimate.
"[The] price came in pretty good, I think a lot of the COVID price inflation is easing," city engineer Phillip Burgmeier said.
The total contract award was for $2.7 million. Of that, $2.1 million will be paid from a state grant program to cover the street itself. For efficiency, the remainder of the contract will go toward replacing water mains and performing sewer maintenance where needed.
Above ground, the project will reconstruct Mary Street from Ferry Street to Shaul Avenue, while also replacing sidewalks to ADA standards, and adding a left turn lane at the Ferry Street intersection to help with school traffic.
In all, it will replace 12,600 square yards of pavement and adding 650 feet of sidewalk.
"There's full depth concrete replacement," Burgmeier said. "So hopefully it lasts longer than the first time it was paved."
The council approved plans for a reconstruction of Washington Street as well, which will go to bidding. It's expected the contract will be awarded at the council's meeting on May 6.
The project will be a full pavement reconstruction on Washington Street from the south side of the Fourth Street intersection to 100 feet north of Fifth Street. A new sanitary and separated storm sewer system will be installed underneath the pavement.
It's estimated to cost $794,661, with Ottumwa Water Works contributing $72,000 of that. That covers about 3,000 square yards of pavement.
The work schedule for both projects is planned for after the current school year ends and before the next year begins.
