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North Branch has moved the northwest old town road improvements project to the proverbial back burner, again.  Council voted unanimously to have WSB engineering look into some concerns that have surfaced  on costs, re-evaluating size of pipes, stormwater handling issues and more— and the city council decided to wait on ordering final specifications to go out for bid this winter.

There will be a communication sent out for an upcoming neighborhood meeting.

Council first scheduled a public hearing on moving this project forward in December after the city has looked at this area of the city over the past couple decades.  The last set of bids received were deemed too costly and the scope of the project was revised.  The weather was terrible for the December 9 project hearing and it was continued in order to be reconvened January 13.

Northwest Old town is east of the freeway and west of Forest Boulevard, north of Hwy 95.  It has been on the maintenance schedule for years and North Branch started an account to help pay for costs.  Poor timing  mentioned at last week’s meeting is Shields Plaza being slated to undergo renovations from this February to November.  The state’s timing of major work planned on Highway 95 has also been a consideration, council was advised. This has been pushed to 2029.

Council member Patrick Meacham expressed concern the delay will be 15 years again.

Mayor Kevin Schieber noted that nothing “catastrophic” has happened during the many delays this project has seen.

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