Cost of 2021 Port street projects tops $2 million

As work is winding down on Port Washington’s 2020 street improvement projects, planning is beginning for not only next year’s projects but those to come in the next five years.

The Board of Public Works on Tuesday agreed to have Gremmer and Associates design next year’s street, sewer and water projects at an estimated cost of $97,000.

The city plans to resurface Thomas Drive from Wisconsin to Holden streets, Holden Street from Thomas Drive to Barry Avenue, Thomas Circle, Michael Court and Sunset Road between highways LL and 32.

It also plans to reconstruct Benjamin Street from Beutel Road to Thomas Drive, Barry Avenue from Benjamin to Holden Street, Beutel Road from Wisconsin to Holden Street, Cindy Circle, Randy Circle and Viola Circle.

In addition to the street work, the city will also replace the water and storm sewer mains and line the sanitary sewer along those streets.

The city decides on the road projects based both on the street condition — the streets proposed for work next year are rated between two and four on a 10-point scale —and on the number of water main breaks that have been occurring, Public Works Director Rob Vanden Noven said.

But just because the city is proposing this work doesn’t mean it will be completed, Vanden Noven said.

“The borrowing has not been done so we aren’t sure if we have the funding,” he said.

The city has been spending roughly $1 million annually to improve its streets and another $1 million for water and sewer improvements.

The 2021 projects are estimated to cost $2.1 million.

Ald. Mike Gasper, a member of the board, asked if the city were considering rebuilding Cindy Circle to resemble a traditional cul de sac, something Vanden Noven said is likely to occur because it will expand people’s front yards.

The board also reviewed the street projects expected to be done over the next five years.

In 2022, Vanden Noven said, work will likely be done on Monroe Street west of Wisconsin Street, Nelson Drive from Whitefish to James Drive and Webster and Benjamin streets from Whitefish Road to Monroe Street.

The following year, he said, the repair schedule tentatively includes Jefferson and Walters streets west of Holden Street as well as Whitefish Road from Jefferson to Holden Street and Grant Street from Walters to Jefferson Street.

In 2024, plans call for the roadwork to shift to the city’s west side, with work done on Crocker Street, Melin Street from Garfield west, Garfield from Melin to Woodland Avenue and Roger Street between Larabee and Melin streets.

First, Second, Third and Fourth streets, as well as High Street and Tower Drive are on the schedule for 2025.

Gasper suggested that the city also look at making repairs to a number of marina district streets in the coming years as the many construction projects planned for the area wind down.

“By 2030, those roads are going to be really bad,” he said.

And, because they are in the city’s downtown tax incremental financing district, TIF funds could be used for that work, Gasper said.