Milton seeks proposals for paving sidewalks

Milton officials are soliciting proposals for paving, sidewalk and curbing projects at Orchard and Front streets.

The town has released three requests for proposals to repave Orchard and Front streets, and then repair and replace sidewalks and curbing from Front Street to Chestnut Street.

Town Manager Kristy Rogers said bids will be opened Thursday, July 26. She plans to evaluate the bids in time for town council to award contracts at their Monday, Aug. 6 meeting.

Rogers said all three projects are estimated to cost a combined $88,000 and are being funded through grants by Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton.  

Smyk said he noticed damage to the pavement in front of the Milton Fire Department, as well as flooding problems. The fixes are intended to improve the drainage and fix asphalt breaks on the street, he said. The funds come from Smyk’s $275,000 in community transportation funds.

Improvements to Orchard Street were listed in the town’s capital improvement list for fiscal year 2018, Rogers said. She said she does not expect traffic delays on Orchard Street, a side street between Union and Mulberry streets. However, Rogers said, the first block of Front Street will be closed during paving and closed intermittently during the sidewalk and curbing work.

Smyk said the next major project he hopes to fund is drainage improvements to the town’s municipal parking lot on Magnolia Street. The entrance to the parking lot floods badly during heavy rains. Rogers had submitted a request for state funds, but the $200,000 in funding was not available this year.