Work on Sunset Drive and the traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. Highway 71 and Kingsland Road have been stalled for some time, but Sunset Drive is moving ahead and the traffic signal is expected to be put in use soon.
Community Development Services director Doug Tapp said that the repairs on Sunset Drive are beginning but they hinge on the completion of the structure, which will have a thick back wall that will function as the first retaining wall for the slope that will support the road.
"They're almost finished with the structure of the building," he said.
A second retaining wall will be constructed further up the hill, he explained, and backfill will be placed before Sunset Drive is repaved, and it will be repaved with a proper class 7 gravel base and thicker asphalt than before.
The project was started back up about two months ago after a stop-work order was lifted, he said, and the work is expected to take about 18 months.
The traffic light at Kingsland Road hit a snag earlier this year when excavation started and previously unknown utility lines were located on-site.
One smaller utility company has not yet responded to inquiries from the city, Tapp said, but work is going to go ahead and start.
"We're ready to go," he said.
Two foundations need to be poured on the west side, he said, and he expects work to start within the next few weeks.
Another project on the horizon aims to carve a left-hand turn into U.S. Highway 71's southbound lane leading into South Lake Drive, right behind the Walgreens and Crye Leike buildings.
Tapp said this project has gone out to bid and he hopes to have bids back within about two weeks.
General News on 08/21/2019