![Sunnyside Avenue in Laurel Hill is in need of repavement; three contracting companies bid on the project, and the council voted for a company at the June 1 meeting. [ALICIA ADAMS/NEWS BULLETIN]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-4fde5991-fa31-063e-e053-0100007f06ed-1e043ccd-scaled.jpeg)
LAUREL HILL— Planned public improvements in Laurel Hill include culvert repairs, paving and drainage improvements.
PRIORITIZED PROJECTS
Crystal Weatherington of Dewberry, the city’s engineering firm, provided the council on Thursday with a list of eight projects in order of priority.
The first, which Weatherington said will benefit the most people, is repairing three culverts in jeopardy on Earl Campbell Road, Chicago Avenue and Second Avenue. Weatherington suggested starting with the culvert on Chicago Avenue, then Earl Campbell Road and Second Avenue. Project estimates are approximately $21,000 for Earl Campbell Road and $15,000 each for Chicago and Second Avenues.
Nita Miller, the city clerk, received quotes from the county for these repairs: approximately $6,000 each for Earl Campbell Road and Second Avenue, and approximately $15,000 for Chicago Avenue. This information was sent to the county commissioners in mid-May, but a decision has not yet been made.
Remaining items on the list went as follows: Eighth Street road rehabilitation and drainage, Steel Mill Creek Road paving, Chicago Avenue culvert and cul-de-sac, Second Avenue drainage and pavement replacement, Skyline drainage improvements, Earl Campbell Road pavement and earthwork, and New Ebenezer Road paving.
Weatherington said she found a technical assistance grant that could "cover $25,000 to $40,000 in cost for design work."
The council voted in favor of this grant.
SUNNYSIDE REPAVEMENT
The Sunnyside Avenue repaving project was sent to contracting companies in May and three placed bids, along with the county.
The companies placed base bids, including every aspect of the project minus the paving, and alternate bids including the paving. CW Roberts Contracting, Inc. bid $323,667.85 for the entire project; J. Miller Construction, Inc. bid $266,746 and H&T Contractors, LLC bid $237,651. H&T is locally owned and operated, and Weatherington has said its low bid reflects lack of overhead, not quality of work. The county also bid on the project, at $57,000 for just pavement; they wouldn’t charge for any other aspect of the project.
Weatherington said the county would put the project on a waiting list until they are available; the contracting companies could begin the project as soon as possible.
Moneypenny said the quality of work the county did on Steel Mill Creek Road was poor. He asked if there would be a warranty if issues arose with the road in the future; the county does not offer a warranty, but H&T offers one for two years, according to Weatherington.
Moneypenny motioned to accept H&T’s base bid; Councilman Daniel Lane seconded and the motion passed. Councilman Mike Blizzard motioned to use H&T for the entire project; Moneypenny seconded and the motion passed.
The project should start within the next few weeks, according to Weatherington.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Road improvements planned