Kirksville to fix roads, storm drains

While Kirksville road construction might be an inconvenience, it should greatly improve the state of the roads.

These improvements fall under the annual Street Preservation Program that is funded by a 0.5-cent sales tax that brings in $1.2 billion per year, although only a small portion of the revenue is allotted to street maintenance and repair.

There is approximately $6  million to $8 million of improvements necessary to bring Kirksville’s roads up to current standards.

“Beginning on July 14 this year, we worked specifically on Centennial Street between Cottonwood and Missouri and a few other smaller streets,” said Carl Brooks, the engineer associated with the Street Preservation Program. “Our major project is Jamison Street.”

Improvements to the smaller streets involve asphalt overlay and storm drainage, which includes working with the curb and gutter.

Brooks said that by implementing these new improvements, the streets will remain dryer and the damage from freezing and thawing will be reduced.

“By conveying the water off the streets, we add to the useful life of the street,” Brooks said.

Brooks said because of cooperative weather, contractors are looking to complete the smaller street repair projects by mid-November, earlier than their original completion date in late November.

Jamison Street, the major project for this year, is more complex and will include more improvements.

“We plan to improve the storm drainage, construct curb and gutter and new driveway entrances on both sides of the street from Hamilton to Hwy 11,” said Craig Dawson, assistant to the City Engineer. “We also will be re-grading behind the curbs to allow for better drainage.”

Safety measures are being improved on Jamison Street, as well, by widening streets and adding guardrails alongside sections of the mile-long stretch.

The project already has gone beyond the original budget by nearly $120,000, but Dawson said it looks like it will be completed ahead of its projected Nov. 12 deadline, and will more likely be finished in mid-October.

“We are so ahead of schedule because our contractor used his curb and gutter machine,” Dawson said. “This machine can put in over 600 feet in the same amount of time that manual laborers can put in around 250 feet.”

While the end of this year’s maintenance and improvements is drawing closer, the Street Preservation Program already is preparing for what needs to be done next.

The street maintenance department will assist the engineering department in deciding which streets are the worst and need the most attention, as they do throughout the year.

Ray Sandstrom, the Kirksville street maintenance supervisor, said hopefully these improvements mean the department won’t have to be patching holes on the newly renovated streets, so their focus can be elsewhere.

This preservation program is an annual, ongoing maintenance issue focusing primarily on smaller sections in the near future, Brooks said.

“While the project is long-term, these current improvements are going to lead to safer driving condi  tions and improved drivability,” Brooks said.