Beatrice elected officials finalize new street plan

BEATRICE – Formal approval has been given to the City of Beatrice one-and-six year street plan. The program approved by the city council includes about $6.3 million of listed work in the first year, and about $4.4 million in the second year.

City Engineer James Burroughs says using a computer program that rates city streets is one factor in determining what streets he and Street Superintendent Jason Moore believe are the highest priorities.
"This is just a tool that we use to make a decision on what roads we should look at in our maintenance program. It's not the final determining factor. There are streets out there that Jason, through his driving around...sees roads that he feels need to be done....those get moved up to the top if they're not matching the scores. Or, if there's a roadway that the council, or the public is inputting, that they want something done. Sometimes, those get moved up to the top as well.....and budgets, is a big thing as well. What can we fit into the budget this year."

The third through sixth years of the plan are less certain, as to scheduling.

During the upcoming year, three mill and overlay projects are planned on parts of Grant, Paddock and Scott Streets. A project on Ella Street near the Gage County Museum is in the plans….and a concrete project on Lincoln Street from 25rh to 27th.

In the second year of the proposed plan, projects include a state resurfacing of U.S. Highway 136 from the Gage County Museum east to 21st Street…a concrete reconstruction of 7th Street from Arthur to Monroe and resurfacing Lincoln Street between 5th and 8th. Other possibilities in the second year include Marlborough Avenue from 3rd to 5th….and 10th Street from Court Street to Scott, depending on funding.

The city is also budgeting $75,000 each for armor coating and asphalt sealing of various seats.

Burroughs says farther into the future is a resurfacing of U.S. 77 throughout Beatrice, jointly funded by the state and the city.  "In the budget right now, it's five-million dollars for that project. I can't tell you if its half that, or a third of that....but we've got to be prepared that we will get charged for some of that project, coming in 2028."

Mayor Bob Morgan says funding considerations are a part of the Safe Streets For All initiative, for which the city has a public hearing coming up October 30th at Beatrice High School.  "Because of that report, it's going to open up some doors for us to hopefully get some dollars in here. Probably not to the magnitude of the RAISE grant, but at least can certainly start assisting on Lincoln Street, in particular."

The one-and-six-year plan was adopted by the city council following a short public hearing.