Work on the first phase of the State Street revitalization project is set to begin later this month, with completion expected around May.
The city received two bids for the initial work, which includes Haw Creek bridge improvements leading into the intersection of Second, Third and State streets and Central Avenue.
Force Construction of Columbus appears to have the low bid of $2,112,457. While the Force offer was $43,043 less than the total submitted by Milestone Contractors Inc., both bids will be reviewed before the contract is awarded by the Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety.
The project calls for the existing pedestrian zone on the north side of the bridge to be widened from 5 feet to 10 feet, and the existing sidewalk on the south side will be widened from 4 feet to 6 feet, said Heather Pope, Columbus redevelopment director.
New barriers and railings will be installed to protect pedestrians and cyclists, including a 54-inch cable railing system along the bridge’s border with the water, Pope said.
Aesthetics include gear-shaped gateway nodes on either side of the bridge, as well as lighting fixtures along the pedestrian pathways, Pope said.
The project will be done in conjunction with a new pavement installation by the Indiana Department of Transportation, which will eliminate the need to close multiple lanes at one time, Pope said.
