City officials, residents look at street improvement projects

Dodge Center officials met with residents of the northwestern area of the city last week about proposed street improvement projects.
The city is looking at several planned reconstruction projects that would begin in 2017. City staff will be meeting with residents in several areas that are being considered for projects.
Last week’s session involved portions of 5th and 6th Avenues and 3rd and 4th Streets.
City Administrator Lee Mattson said that the city has a $2 million budget for the street improvements but if it were to do all the projects it would be $6 million.
Mattson said that in the area under discussion last week the project was being considered because of deteriorating street surfaces, numerous water breaks on 5th and 6th Avenues, sewer issues in the easement between 5th and 6th Avenue, sanitary sewer issues, the lack of a water main on 4th Street and sewers.
“We’re at the beginning of this project,” he said. “We don’t know exactly what the design would be.”
City Engineer Craig Britten explained how the project would be done, starting with the removal of the road surface, the underground utilities and the trees that may have to be removed.
Underground utilities are installed in stages, he said, starting with the sanitary sewer which is located deepest in the ground followed by the water mains, water services and storm sewers.
The next step, he said, is putting aggregate in the street and driveways, curb and gutter, drain tile, sidewalks, paving and sod.
Britten said the city expects to select the area that will be