Highland moving forward with ‘streetscape’ renovation. What all will it include?

Residents of Broadway Street will get a different view later this year, as the city moves forward with a “streetscape” project.

Highland will replace the streetlights and sidewalks along Broadway from Poplar to Laurel streets later this year, encompassing approximately half a mile of street.

The Highland City Council voted Feb. 18 to approve hiring Oates & Associates to conduct the engineering services for the project, at an estimated $37,500. City manager Mark Latham said their job is primarily to secure the construction easements and rights of way for the work.

“We’re anxious to get started,” Latham said. “It’s been frustrating to have this thing delayed as much as it has been.

Originally the Illinois Department of Transportation — which has rights to Broadway Street — wanted to hold Highland to a new standard regarding bump-outs at crosswalks and handicapped ramps. However, Latham said those standards were not revealed at the start of the project, and would have added $600,000 to the cost.

“That was something they never told us about when we started designing this,” Latham said. “If they’re going to ask us to do something, they need to tell us from the start.”

Eventually IDOT granted them permission without the new standards, but it delayed the project. Originally Latham said they planned to go out for a bid in December, but now it looks like they might miss the April bid letting. That means it could be June before they get bids.

However, IDOT has arranged a federal grand of more than $1.2 million, and the city’s contribution will be nearly $430,000. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.65 million.

It will include new curbs, wider sidewalks and “period” lighting with old-fashioned streetlamps, Latham said. There will also be new signage, painting and new trees planted.

It does not include resurfacing the roads or adding storm sewers, Latham said.

“We’ve got it in our budget that as soon as the project is done, we will repave that area,” Latham said.

Last year, the city relocated water lines out of Broadway Street to minimize the amount of excavation needed, he said.

No driving changes expected

While construction is ongoing, Latham does not anticipate any change in traffic patterns or the need for lane closures.

“Most of the work is on the curbs and sidewalks, with new driveway entrances and lighting,” he said.

This is phase one of streetscape for Broadway; the next phase will extend it from Laurel Street to Illinois 160, Latham said. But there is no estimate when that might happen, he said.