City engineer discussed $4.8 million Oak Drive improvement project from U.S. 30 to Lake Avenue

Details of a $4.8 million sidewalk project on Oak Drive were discussed by Plymouth City Engineer Dan Sellers during Monday night’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting. 

Sellers was seeking approval of a financial commitment letter to be included with a Local Public Agency (LPA) grant application. The letter confirms that the city has the matching funds available for the project. The goal of the project is to provide safer transportation alternatives for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles, such as bikes and scooters, along Oak Drive from U.S. 30 south to Lake Avenue/State Road 17.

The proposed project would include sidewalks on both sides of Oak Drive from U.S. 30 to Jefferson Street. From Jefferson Street south to Lake Avenue/SR 17, the sidewalk would only be on the east side of the street.  From Hehr Lane to Jefferson Street, an 8-foot-wide sidewalk will be installed on both sides. North of Hehr Lane to U.S. 30, the plan includes two driving lanes, a center turn lane, and 5-foot-wide bike lanes on both sides, each with a 2-foot buffer strip. The rough estimate of cost is $4.8 million, and the city’s 20% match would be just under $1 million. 

The City Engineer said if awarded the grant, construction would begin in 2031, but the preliminary engineering would begin in 2026.  Sellers said he has $168,000 in the 2026 budget under contractual services for the city’s share of the preliminary engineer costs. 

The survey work and some of the appraisals for the right-of-way acquisition can be handled in preliminary engineering, although they can’t approach property owners for additional right-of-way until the preliminary engineering is completed.  Sellers stated that efforts would be made to work around existing utilities when possible.

Mayor Listenberger said they have already added the inflation factor because construction for the project is anticipated in 2031.

He also said the Oak Drive project will dovetail into the Harrison Street Trail Project, which should begin in 2026 and be completed in 2027, and will work into the city budget as well.

The Board of Public Works and Safety unanimously approved signing the grant commitment letter for the grant application.