May 2015

UPDATE: Is the larger pipe for the Indoor aquatic center part of the budget?

l3wis May 21, 2015 3Comments

UPDATE: I was told by a city official that the 8″ Pipe was included in the building budget. Maybe they learned a lesson from the Events Center? I also spoke with a citizen today who attended all of the “Advocational” sessions before the municipal election about the pool options, and he told me he asked Parks Director Kearney at the sessions if infrastructure would have to be upgraded if an indoor pool had to be built (roads/sewer/water, etc.) and Kearney either didn’t answer the question or said ‘NO’

There was a press conference recently explaining that a part of Western Avenue would have to be closed to put in new 8″ water pipe for the indoor aquatic center (opposed to the current 4″ water pipe);

From Tuesday, May 26, to Thursday, May 28, 2015, South Western Avenue will be closed at West 24th Street to provide access for utility work on the indoor aquatic center at Spellerberg Park. Contractors need to access water and wastewater lines that are buried under the street. Access to the Park Ridge Galleria will be maintained at all times.

Traffic on Western Avenue will be detoured to South Kiwanis Avenue via West 22nd Street and West 26th Street. The closure is expected to last only three days, but traffic delays should be expected.

“This is another milestone for the indoor aquatic center project, a big step in ensuring the project stays on schedule for enclosure by winter,” says Lance Weatherly, Civil Engineer. “We appreciate everyone’s patience during this brief closure of Western Avenue.”

So is this utility work included in the Indoor Aquatic Center’s building budget? I would be curious, because as you remember, much of the initial utility work done at the events center was not a part of that budget.