Chestnut Street bridge repairs, Community Trail expansion before City Council

posted on 12/12/2022

The City Council meets on Wednesday, Dec. 14, for its only regular meeting of the month.

Agenda items include a resolution to authorize the city to contract with New England Infrastructures, LLC. to make repairs to the Chestnut Street bridge for $2.1 million.

The project consists of removing the pavement, membrane and sidewalks on the bridge, repairing deteriorated concrete in the bridge deck, cold planning approach pavement, reconstructing the bridge sidewalks, and installing new bridge membrane, new bridge pavement and new wearing course pavement.

If the project receives authorization, work is expected to begin in the coming weeks, and the contractor will create a traffic control program as part of the work. The contractor is authorized to close the bridge to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic through mid-spring to complete the work, which was reviewed and approved by the Transportation Advisory Commission at its May 23, 2022, meeting.

The repair project was put out for bid in March 2022; however, it was not awarded due to higher bid pricing than planned. The bid was revised, and more funding was added to the Fiscal Years 2024-2029 Capital Improvements Program adopted by the City Council in October 2022. The project was rereleased for bid in October, with New England Infrastructures, LLC., of Hudson, Massachusetts as the sole responder.

Other agenda items include authorizing:

• An amendment to the contract with the design services consultant for the Community Trail Expansion Phase IV, for $48,813, which would be used for an engineering study to create a Bellamy River crossing that will not impact the disc golf course. Fiscal Year 2024 budget guidance. The resolution states, “The City Manager and School Board shall submit their recommended budgets for Fiscal Year 2024 pursuant to State law and the Dover City Charter and in accordance with the City of Dover’s adopted Financial Policies.”
• An amendment to the contract with the services consultant for the Lower Central Avenue Improvement Project for $29,800. Engineers have identified problems with the geometry at the intersection of Silver Street and Central Avenue. The goal is to look at possible modifications to improve vehicle flow and accommodate all modes of transportation. Another key task is to review drainage impacts to outlet stormwater flow down Union Street, which currently serves as the relief point for stormwater collected along a section of Central Avenue.

There will also be a public hearing on a proposed ordinance change to Chapter 105, “Peace and Good Order.” The proposed change would add the Sullivan Field and Playground and surrounding city-owned property to the city-owned locations where hunting or target practice is prohibited.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall’s Council Chambers. It will be televised on Channel 22 and online at dovernh.viebit.com, where it will also be available for on-demand viewing. City Council agendas and materials for this and previous meetings are available here.