Street work: Othello City Council approves rebidding Ash Street contract

OTHELLO — Othello city officials will advertise a second time for bids for a project to modify some street corners on Ash Street and build a few sections of sidewalk, as Othello City Council members approved rebidding the project Monday.

The project prompted an extensive discussion about traffic, traffic planning and traffic problems among the council over the course of multiple meetings.

Ash Street runs from 14th Avenue to Seventh Avenue and connects Lutacaga and Scootney Springs elementary schools, as well as McFarland Middle School.

The plans for Ash Street included street corner modifications that extend into the parking lane, called bulbouts. The plan includes bulbouts at six intersections: Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, 10th, 11th and 14th avenues. Funding also was included for about 500 feet of additional sidewalk.

City engineer Shawn O’Brien said the city received a state Department of Transportation grant to pay for 92% of the project, up to $858,860. The city and the Othello School District are covering the rest of the cost.

O’Brien said at the May 28 council meeting the bids received were much higher than the estimate, and recommended rejecting all bids, which council members did.

But council member Cory Everett said he was opposed to bulbouts on Ash Street in any case. Restricting traffic on Ash Street will just move the traffic problem from one street to another, he said.

Council member John Lallas said the goal of the project is to increase pedestrian safety, especially for kids walking to and from school along Ash Street.

Everett said city officials need to think about how they’re going to address traffic, on Ash Street and throughout town, since many drivers will take the fastest route for them, whether it’s a street designed to accommodate more traffic (called an arterial) or a street through a residential neighborhood.

City employees made extensive modifications to the original proposal and presented them to the council at the June 7 meeting. O’Brien said the changes should reduce the cost enough to stay within the grant amount.

The modifications included making the bulbouts smaller. They will extend out six feet, rather than the eight feet originally planned.

Engineers changed the design to reduce the amount of existing sidewalk and asphalt that would have to be removed and replaced. Changing how the curbs and islands are poured and removing some decorative elements also decreased the projected price. The revisions also included changes in the size of the stormwater drains.

Council member John Erickson said he supported the project, since returning the money could make it more difficult for the city to apply for funding through the program, called “Safe Routes to School,” in the future. There are some strong opinions about bulbouts, he said, but it would be fiscally irresponsible not to pursue the project.