City Commissioners approved a $4,636,298 contract to Capcon Construction during their May 19 meeting for the third phase of the downtown storm drainage improvement project.

This phase includes four blocks of new storm drain mains and will replace two and a half blocks of aging water mains and two and a half blocks of deteriorating streets, plus some replacement of curb, gutter and sidewalk.

This phase will continue adding storm drain inlets and increasing underground pipe capacity. The area includes 2nd Street North from 1st Alley North to Central Avenue; Central Avenue from 2nd Street to 4th Street; 4th Street North from 1st Alley North to Central Avenue; 5th Street North from 1st Alley North to Central Avenue and from 2nd Avenue North to 2nd Alley North. The third phase also includes water main improvements and street reconstruction on 2nd Street North from 1st Alley North to Central Avenue, and along Central Avenue from 2nd Street to 4th Street.

Downtown drainage project to close portions of Central Avenue this summer

The project includes a new storm drain main in Central Avenue, 2nd Street North, 4th Street North and 5th Street North.

An existing undersized storm drain main in Central Avenue will remain alongside the new, larger main.

Central Avenue and 2nd Street North have aging water mains installed in the 1890s and street surfaces in need of repair. Those improvements were included in this phase of the project to minimize repeated construction of the area.

This project will impact Central Avenue, and to minimize impact to downtown businesses, the contractor may only close one half block of Central at a time during construction and will be required to maintain at least a 5-foot width of open sidewalk, according to the city.

Downtown drainage project to close another intersection, block [2025]

Temporary water will be used on Central Avenue and 2nd Street.

Under the contract, the contractor will be required to finish all work on 2nd Street, Central Avenue and 4th Street before a winter shutdown, according to the city.

Storm drainage work on 5th Street may take place in the spring of 2027, according to the city.

The contractor may not begin the project until July 6 to avoid conflict with the parade.

The project was designed to address the increase in short-duration, high-intensity rainfall events that caused flooding downtown in recent years, which caused multiple complaints from property owners who experienced flooding in their basements and lower levels.

City approves contract for downtown drainage improvement project [2025]

Great West Engineering completed a basin study in December 2020 for the downtown area, assessing the existing storm drainage piping and helping to identify system deficiencies and recommendations for improvements.

The first phase of the project began in 2023 and included new storm drain inlets and increasing underground pipe capacity. The area included 3rd Street South from 4th Avenue South to 2nd Avenue South; 3rd Avenue South from 3rd Street South to 4th Street South; and 2nd Avenue South from 3rd Street South to 5th Street South.

City considering TIF funds for downtown drainage project [2023]

The second phase was done in 2025 and continued adding storm drain inlets and increasing underground pipe capacity. The area included 3rd Street South from 2nd Alley South to Central Avenue, and 1st Ave South from 3rd Street South to 5th Street South. This phase also included water main, street reconstruction and handicap ramp reconstruction along 1st Avenue South from 3rd Street South to 5th Street South.

Staff briefed city commissioners on the project during a February work session and also presented it to downtown property and business owners in the construction area.

Commission to consider amendment to downtown plan for drainage projects [2022]

Public construction status meetings will be held biweekly during construction to keep the downtown community updated, according to city staff.

The city received three bids for the project ranging from $4,636,298 to $5,877,627, with Capcon submitting the lowest bid.

The storm drainage improvements will be partially funded with $1,817,581.60 of downtown tax increment financing funds and $730,997.80 of storm utility funds.

Another $1,747,019.40 of water utility funds and $340,699.80 of street funds are planned for the project.