Old Town Infrastructure on the cusp… but not quite ready to begin.
Much of the pipe is ready to go, equipment is staged at the top of the hill on Quince Street, but work on the Old Town Infrastructure Improvement Project won’t get underway for another week and a half.
Florence Public Works Director Mike Miller says R & G Excavating is waiting on one supplier to deliver manholes. But they are expected to begin grinding asphalt on Quince Street in preparation for trenching on April 18th.
Mike Miller – “They’re probably going to go ahead and close the street between Harbor and Sixth. And when they get up to the top there will be, you know, one way traffic, once they’re up on top to keep circulation from 126 to the Events Center.”
It’s a two part project with the trip up the hill for the sewer line.
Mike Miller – “Want to lay the facility going uphill, that way you can maintain, you know, good grades. So that’s why they’re starting down at Second and Harbor. Once they have the sewer line done they’ll actually be turning around and actually starting at Highway 126.”
Then they’ll work their way down with a new 16-inch water line. Most of the work is expected to be completed before the Rhododendron Festival with street repaving coming just after.
The Harbor to 126 project is the first of three phases that will upgrade water and sewer lines in the Old Town area. It’s funded by tax-increment financing provided by the Urban Renewal Agency.
No Extension for Studs
Oregon will not be extending the studded tire season past Monday. That’s the last day motorists will be legally allowed to drive with the traction devices on their tires. The original deadline was April 1st, but that was extended because of inclement weather forecast throughout the state.
The Oregon Department of Transportation completed a study 12 years ago that concluded studded tires cause at least $40-million damage each year to city streets, county roads and state highways. Drivers with studs on their car after the deadline can face a $150 fine.
Hidden Eggs
A pair of Easter Egg Hunts will be offered to coastal communities over the weekend. Saturday in Florence, at Miller Park, the Siuslaw High School Honor Society and the Interact Club of Rotary will hide more than five thousand candy and stuffed eggs at Miller Park. It starts at ten AM sharp and is open to kids ten and under.
Sunday afternoon the Gardiner-Reedsport Lions Club will hold the 60th annual hunt in that community. That’s at Baronne (buh-ROAN) Park at 1:30 PM.
Child Abuse Prevention
A garden of one-thousand bright blue pinwheels sprouted this morning at Three Rivers Casino and Hotel. It’s part of a series of similar displays at public facilities around the state to draw attention to the cause of preventing child abuse.
Susan Lindauer, the Executive Director of the Children’s Trust Fund of Oregon and Prevent Child Abuse Oregon says they’re “thrilled” to partner with Three Rivers to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month. The pinwheels represent efforts to highlight the fact that all community members play a role in raising children… whether they’re neighbors, teachers, mentors or family members. Lindauer says child abuse and neglect can have lifelong consequences.
