Wednesday, April 26, 2000
Contractor needs a time extension
But High Street progress is visible
By Earnest Winston
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HAMILTON — The streetscape project on High Street will last longer than anticipated, but exactly how much longer is unknown.
General contractor R.A. Miller Construction Co. has told city officials that the New Miami company will need an extension for the $5.1 million face lift.
Hamilton officials granted an extension for final completion by May 29, because of a delay in awarding the project.
The developer “has to make his case and submit that information to us, and then we will review it and make a determination,” City Engineer Bernerd Showman said about the extension, which would be the second the city has granted.
Fine to be assessed
Mr. Showman said the contractor has not specified how much more time is needed to wrap up the improvements. If an extension is granted, the contractor would be assessed $350 a day beyond the extended completion date.
“There have been a couple of delays that have been beyond his control,” Mr. Showman said, referring in part to underground work, including the removal of utility lines that were in a different place than what the plans showed.
The street improvements are expected to be a way to draw more shoppers downtown, as well as a jump-start for development opportunities.
Hamilton Economic Development Director Tim Bigler said the streetscape project “will hopefully attract additional development to downtown.”
Mel Less, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, said he has heard several complaints about how the project has inconvenienced residents.
“I am now finally hearing very favorable comments as people can see the results,” Mr. Less said.
Remaining work includes: wiring new street lights and traffic signals; concrete brick crosswalks at each intersection; curbs and sidewalks on the south side of High Street between Second Street and Journal Square; work on Journal Square; some paving and striping on High Street and cross-streets (Monument, Front, Second and Third) and landscaping.
Second Street, between Court and Market streets, will close within two weeks because of work on the crosswalk. The work will take about a week to complete.
Also, some lanes on east and west High Street will remain closed for crosswalk work.
PHOTO: DICK SWAIM
A two-tone High Street is installed by Decorative Paving employees Kevin Ellis of Franklin (left), Jeff Dawson, Hamilton and Ned Wells of New Lebanon. Concrete bricks set off new concrete crosswalks at Second Street.
Jeff Dawson takes care in laying the bricks level with the concrete, embedded in a tar-based mastic.
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