Choice One Engineering has started the design work on the water line replacement and streetscape work planned in 2019 for Jefferson Street.

Jessie Blackburn, village administrator, updated Bluffton council on the project at Monday’s council meeting.

He said that bidding documents will be prepared for bidding to take place early next year.  Construction should begin in July.

The Jefferson Street project by the village coincides with Ohio Department of Transportation’s replacement of the Jefferson Street bridge. The bridge will be closed from April to October.

ODOT and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will pay for the bridge replacement.

Meanwhile, the Jefferson Street project (not including the bridge replacement) has two phases.

Phase 1 – Project to extend from Main to Huber includes full depth road reconstruction, replacement of 4-inch waster main, elimination of creek crossing, replacement of sidewalks, curb and storm sewer.

Preliminary construction cost projection: $850,000.
Engineering fees: $61,765.

Phase 2 – Water main replacement project replaces existing water main with an 8-inch PVC line from Huber to County Line Road. All services and meters will be replaced on the project route. No full width resurfacing is scheduled with this project. Trench repair will be completed.

Estimated preliminary construction cost: $243,549.
Engineering fee: $17,215.

Blackburn told council that the $78,980 combined engineering costs are within the current year budget.

Bridge replacement
ODOT agreed to fund a six-foot sidewalk on both sides of the new bridge, in addition to an aesthetic improvement that the village would fund.

The current bridge lacks a sidewalk on either side. The bridge will have what is termed “Texas classic bridge design.”

That improvement includes a graphic or design such as the Village of Bluffton logo on the approach walls or on the abutment of the bridge. The village hopes to obtain a quote for that portion of the project.