#EDMONDEXCHANGE
Buildings coming down
Demolition crews were back at work this week tearing down buildings at Bryant Square shopping center, Second Street and Bryant Avenue.
The first of four buildings to be torn down was destroyed in January as part of a massive renovation project.
A new building is being constructed just east of where Mackie McNear’s Steakhouse once stood. PDQ restaurant is expected to open in the new building.
Work also continues to upgrade the store fronts.
Last year, InvenTrust Properties Corp. invested more than $7.5 million in the 286,579-square-foot shopping center.
Stephenson Park restrooms
Mechanical, electrical and plumbing inspections were scheduled to take place this week for new restrooms just south of the Rodkey House Event and Education Annex in Stephenson Park, said Assistant City Manager Steve Commons. The completion date is set for Friday. The restrooms will serve park patrons and visitors at the newly renovated Rodkey House off Littler Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets. C4L is the contractor. The cost of just over $190,000 will come from the park tax fund. The restrooms have special hardware that is Bluetooth capable, which the city has at other venues such as Festival Market Place and Barnett Field Splash Pad.
Bus stop work
Contractors are about 35 percent finished with the sidewalk and ramp portions of the 109 ADA-compliant bus stops along the Citylink routes.
The concrete work was awarded to Parathon Construction for $227,000 and will be paid with a sales tax approved in 2000 for capital improvements.
“This contract number may increase through a change order, because we have found poor sidewalk conditions in the area of the bus stops which needed to be corrected,” said Assistant City Manager Steve Commons.
Signs and a few shelters will be erected with the project. The total budget is $400,000.
“One of the key reasons for installing bus stops is to assist with traffic flow,” said Susan Miller, public transit coordinator. “The designated stops for pick up and drop off should eliminate some of the traffic issues caused previously by frequent and unstructured stops.”
Drivers should expect lane closures to allow for the pouring of concrete.
Bike month events
The Edmond Bicycle Committee is celebrating May Bike Month with a number of events. The schedule includes a flat tire repair clinic at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Al’s Bicycles, 2624 Broadway Court; bicycle and pedestrian counting projects from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to noon May 20; national biketo-work day at 7:30 a.m. Friday at Festival Market Place; a group ride at Heard on Hurd on May 20, and bike to church of choice May 21.
Covell intersection work
Construction started Tuesday to add turn lanes on Covell Road at the intersections with Bryant Avenue and Santa Fe Avenue. The work is expected to take four months.
The project includes the installation of dedicated left-turn lanes in all four directions at both intersections. A dedicated right-turn lane will be installed on the northbound Santa Fe and Covell intersection. The interim improvements should improve traffic flow for several years at both intersections until the full widening of Covell can take place.
The road will remain open during construction. Temporary closures may occur to accommodate equipment at the work sites. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes as needed.
Cimarron Construction Company is the contractor for the project, which will cost nearly $2.6 million. The city is picking up the entire bill.
Need answers?
Reader Evelyn Schroeder asked: “I live in Fairfax and would like to know if there will be sidewalk access from Fairfax, Ashforde Oaks and Faircloud to the new convention center, movie theater, bowling alley, restaurants and shops. This would constitute over 1,000 households walking access to this wonderful addition to our community. If we could walk, we wouldn’t be taking precious parking spaces, and enjoy the healthful benefits as well.”
Assistant City Manager Steve Commons answered: “The access that the reader is requesting will come when we complete the next stage of Covell improvements that will go from Fairfax Boulevard to the west to Griffin Boulevard which is the furthest west entrance to the Fairfax subdivision from Covell. This next phase is currently under design and scheduled in the fiscal year 2018-2019 budget year. Hopefully, they will begin to see utility relocation work occurring the fiscal year 2017-2018 budget year. Ashford Oaks and Faircloud will take longer extension of Covell beyond Griffin and is currently not scheduled in our five-year plan. Capital project planning is subject to change, and additional Covell improvements might be added.”
Have questions about Edmond and its road construction, the hotel and conference center, traffic, new capital improvement projects or anything else? Email your questions to dbaldwin@oklahoman.com. Edmond Exchange will find an answer.