City Commissioners approved a $594,625 contract to United Materials during their June 4 meeting for the first phase of the 32nd Street South ADA upgrade project.

The area was prioritized by the infrastructure scoring processes outlined in the Public Right of Way ADA Transition Plan.

Construction will require temporary lane closures of 32nd Street South from the intersections of 5th through 9th Avenues, but access to residences adjacent to the construction zones will be maintained.

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The project is part of a multi-phase plan to complete the ADA route from Central Avenue to 10th Avenue South.

The ADA improvements will provide an accessible route to a state maintaining ADA compliant pedestrian corridor along 10th Avenue South, according to city staff.

The location’s priority was established as “well above average” by public stakeholders and ADA federally mandated characteristics using metrics established and monitored in the transition plan, according to staff. It was also prioritized due to a future mill and overlay project scheduled for 32nd Street South.

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City engineering staff, with help from the utilities and street divisions, completed the design phase engineering for plans and specifications. Staff will also provide construction phase engineering services and project inspection.

The project includes installing curb ramps and alley aprons from the intersection of 32nd Street South and 5th Avenue South through to the intersection with 9th Avenue South.

The city received two bids for the project. One from Geranios Enterprises was $609,238 and the low bid from United Materials at $594,625.

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The project was selected from within the city’s public works capital improvement program and the transition plan.

Street assessment and gas tax funds; water and storm enterprise funds have been budgeted for this phase of the project.