With construction bids arriving higher than anticipated, the city of Galesburg has slightly modified plans for its nearly $2.5 million Simmons Street Parking Lot and Streetscape project.
Galesburg Aldermen on Monday will be asked to reject the initial bids in order for city staff to rebid the project.
The proposed modifications will include removal of the overhead parking canopy and changes to the electrical and striping plan. Several other items including a pedestrian canopy, electric vehicle charging station, and dumpster enclosure will be included as alternate bid items.
Aaron Gavin, city engineer, tells WGIL the rebidding process will delay the start of the project 6 to 8 weeks. The original project start date was early August.
Gavin expects the project will take approximately 6-7 months to complete.
“On the original timeline, I would have anticipated that the project would have been completed by early summer of next year,” Gavin said. “On the new timeline, the work could be started this year but a large portion of the project will have to wait until spring of next year. This likely puts completion into the fall of next year.”
Gavin said the timing of the project also is dependent on the weather late this fall and in the spring.
The City of Galesburg received a $2 million Rebuild Downtown and Main Streets grant in 2022 to make improvements to Parking Lot H and the 200 block of East Simmons Street. Originally, total estimated cost for the project is approximately $2.45 million. The grant award was for $2,082,500, and local match funds will be used to cover the difference.
Improvements to Simmons Street between Kellogg and Prairie streets will also be made as part of the grant funded project. This will include a new asphalt surface, curbing, sidewalks, lighting, and landscaping.
A new configuration of the parking lot would eliminate two entry drives on Kellogg Street to increase pedestrian safety. An added entry drive on Simmons Street would improve vehicular circulation.
The improvements to the parking lot and the street closely follow the city’s Design Development of Downtown Public Spaces plan that was prepared in 2016.
