In a unanimous decision on Monday, Nov. 18, members of the Oakdale City Council authorized a significant investment into the revitalization of the city’s Southwest Downtown area, aimed at enhancing safety and infrastructure through the Safe Routes to School project.
The resolution passed enables City Manager Bryan Whitemyer to execute an agreement with George Reed, Inc. for a comprehensive overhaul that includes not just repaving, but substantial underground infrastructure improvements.
The project, budgeted at $5.6 million, is set to transform the neighborhood roads and utilities that have seen over 25 years of wear and tear without major improvements.
Carina McDonald, Capital Projects Manager, detailed the project’s scope during the council meeting.
“We’re looking at revitalizing Third Avenue, Second Avenue, and First Avenue, all the way from H Street across Church Street out to J Street,” said McDonald.
The area’s average Pavement Condition Index (PCI) stands at a dismal 27, indicating severe deterioration.
The funding for this extensive project comes from multiple sources, including Measure L, CDBG funds, and several other city and federal funds, emphasizing a strong fiscal strategy that leverages grant money to minimize local taxpayer impact. Officials note that $1.3 million of the project costs are covered by grants, underscoring the city’s proactive approach to funding essential infrastructure without burdening the residents.
Councilmember Christopher Smith praised the grant acquisition efforts.
“Thank you for hunting down and using these grants,” he said. “It’s a big deal that $1.3 million isn’t coming from our pockets.”
Councilmember Kayleigh Gilbert highlighted community feedback about the project: “I think the residents are going to be very happy, because when I went door knocking for my National Night Out event, almost every single house that I knocked at complained about the road that they lived on, and also, at our event, they really feel like our city underserves that portion of our community. And when you feel better about the place that you live, you want to take better care of it. You want to give back to your community, so this is just great for all of the citizens that live in that downtown quarter.”
The project also includes upgrading pedestrian safety features, such as curb ramps and crosswalks, to encourage walking and biking to school among local children. Additionally, structural concrete will replace asphalt in critical areas like the fire department driveway to accommodate heavy emergency service vehicles.
Anticipated to start in early spring, the project timeline spans approximately nine months, according to McDonald. The city plans to coordinate closely with residents to manage the inevitable disruptions from such a large-scale construction effort.
Mayor Cherilyn Bairos expressed optimism about the project’s impact.
“I look forward to seeing this go through. Thank you, really. It’s going to be awesome,” she said.
This revitalization project marks a pivotal step in addressing long-standing infrastructure needs while planning for the community’s future growth and safety.
For more information regarding this project, contact City Hall at 209-845-3571.
