Public works director recommends Railroad Avenue overhaul from West to Dunn Street

By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX — Public Works Director Rand Bates is recommending that the village reconstruct Railroad Avenue.

Bates told the Colfax Village Board at the April 22 meeting that he has received numerous complaints about the potholes on Railroad Avenue.

An estimate from Senn Blacktop, Inc. quotes a price of $194,115 for reconstructing Railroad Avenue from West Street to Main Street and from Main Street to County Highway M, for a total of 4,911 lineal feet, or just shy of one mile.

Bates said he was recommending that Railroad Avenue be reconstructed from West Street to Dunn Street, for a total of 4,900 lineal feet at an estimated cost of $87,850.

Railroad Avenue from Dunn Street to Highway M is in somewhat better shape than the other parts of Railroad Avenue, Bates noted.

“We can wait to do from Dunn to M,” he said.

No water mains or sewer lines need to be dug up and replaced along Railroad Avenue, Bates said.

According to the estimate provided to the village board, reconstructing Railroad Avenue would involve pulverizing the existing blacktop, rough grading, finish grading, paving with an inch and a half of binder course, applying a tack coat, and paving with an inch and a half of surface course.

The Colfax Village Board unanimously approved a motion to forward reconstructing Railroad Avenue to the streets committee.

Village Trustee Richard Johnson is chair of the streets committee. Village Trustees Susan Olson, Beverly Schauer, and Village President Scott Gunnufson also serve on the committee.

Equipment 

Bates recommended as well that the village board consider trading off the 2001 front-end loader and replacing it with a newer piece of equipment.

“I think we should start trading out equipment before it’s not worth anything … before it has no value,” Bates said.

The 2001 loader is completely functional, but it is starting to rust, he noted.

The Colfax Village Board unanimously approved a motion to refer the front-end loader to the streets committee.