Ridge Road Repairs, Historic District Sidewalk Replacement and Increased Water Flow to Town's South Side Highlight 2020 Infrastructure Improvements; Wastewater Treatment Plant Repairs Also Scheduled
Silver City -- It's nearly Spring, and that means infrastructure improvement projects will soon begin in earnest in the Town of Silver City. First up, the Public Works Department will replace sidewalks in the historic downtown area, on Market and Yankie streets from Bullard to Pinos Altos, and on Texas, Arizona and Pinos Altos streets, from Market to Yankie. The project is expected to start at the end of the month, and be completed in July. This $425,000 project is made possible through funds allocated by the state legislature.
The largest road improvement project this year is on Ridge Road, from NM Highway 90 (Hudson Street) to Sky View Drive, which includes new paving, curb and gutter, sidewalks on the east side of the street, ADA modifications at the intersections, drainage improvements, signage and lane striping to include bicycle lanes. The total project cost is $804,000, which is being funded through the Colonias Infrastructure Fund, administered by the New Mexico Finance Authority.
Complementing this Ridge Road street improvement, Utility Department crew members have begun installing approximately 2,200 feet of 12-inch waterline along this same stretch of Ridge Road, which will increase the volume of water flow to the south end of Silver City, improving overall water pressure to homes in the area. The new line will eliminate a section of existing six-inch waterline from Highway 90 to Mobile Drive, and parallel existing waterline from Mobile Drive south to Sky View Drive. Weather permitting, the waterline extension is expected to be completed in early April, then road crews will begin Phase I improvements. All work on this section of Ridge Road is expected to be completed by late August.
On Swan Street, road crews will repair, chip and fog seal and restripe the street to include bicycle lanes from U.S. Highway 180 to 12th Street, then also on 12th Street from Gold Street to Pope. This $239,623 project is funded by the state Department of Transportation and will begin in mid-April, and take approximately 45 days to complete.
At the March 24th meeting of the Town Council, councilors are expected to consider bids for new pumps at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Once the council takes action, construction is expected to begin in early April and be completed by July. This $207,421 project is funded by a grant from the New Mexico Colonias Infrastructure Fund, and replaces equipment installed in 1978 when the plant was originally constructed.
Other utility projects are in the planning phase, including improvements to a one-million-gallon water tank at Chloride Flats. Utility Department staff recently applied for funding from the Colonias Infrastructure Fund to perform interior and exterior renovations to extend the life of the oldest of the three tanks located on U.S. Highway 180, thereby avoiding complete tank replacement. The funding application was submitted in February, and staff will present the proposal to the Colonias Infrastructure Board on March 25, which is expected to notify the town of its decision by April 21. If funded, the project would take place in early 2021.
Also in the works is replacement of water lines in the East Chihuahua Hill neighborhood. Town staff will apply for funding from the U.S. Community Development Block Grant Program in June, which, if funded, would replace water and service lines, and fire hydrants along East Daniel, East Dorothy, East Victoria, South Bard and South Elias streets. Total project costs have yet to be determined, and staff will learn in September if the project is funded, then construction would likely begin early next year.
For more information about 2020 infrastructure improvements, please contact the Public Works Department at (575) 388-4640 and the Utilities Department at (575)534-6365.