Royal City looks at street improvements

ROYAL CITY — Some streets in Royal City could be getting a makeover, according to information presented at the Royal City Council meeting Tuesday. City Finance Director Shilo Christensen told council members the city is applying to the state Transportation Improvement Board for funds under the Small City Preservation Program to perform chip sealing on streets on the west end of town, as well as on Ahlers and several other streets in the north end. The city is already making improvements in the area anyway, Christensen said, and the chip sealing will be necessary after that work is finished. “We're going to be tearing up the roads putting in new water lines,” Christensen said, showing a map highlighting parts of Balsam, Calla and Grape streets, as well as Hemlock and Hawthorne avenues and Calla Loop. “What our engineers are trying to do is, they're applying to the Transportation Improvement Board to receive funds. So at the same time we're laying pipe, we can redo the roads a lot better.” The streets on the north side of town slated for possible improvement include portions of Ahlers Road, Wildflower and King streets, Poarch and Hargraves avenues and Widmer Drive. This area is not getting the water line upgrade, but the streets are being crack sealed in anticipation of receiving monies for the chip sealing...