Second leg of 61st Avenue work comes in under budget

HOBART | The second phase of the 61st Avenue improvement project has come in significantly under budget.

"We ran under budget, almost $245,000 under budget. We were happy with that result," Assistant City Engineer Jake Dammarell told the 61st Avenue Joint Governing Committee on Tuesday.

That money can be used for the third and final phase of the 61st Avenue improvements, which will be the most costly, a projected $15 million.

Director of Development Denarie Kane's response was a bit more guarded.

"Don't get too excited; we have a long way to go," she said.

Dammarell said some preliminary work has been started on the third phase, including preparation of environmental documents and septic locations.

Bid letting for the third phase will take place in July or August 2013 with construction to follow, he said.

Work on the second phase, which was completed late last year, was handled by Walsh & Kelly Construction of Griffith.

The base contract was awarded to Walsh & Kelly for $2.3 million, and Walsh & Kelly also was awarded a $373,644 contract to lay a water line from Colorado Street to just west of Deep River Estates.

Financing of the second phase, which is in a tax increment financing district, was paid for through local money, Mayor Brian Snedecor said.

That phase included widening and repaving, and installation of storm sewers, lighting and sidewalks along the north side.

The first phase, at a cost of $8.7 million, widened and upgraded 61st Avenue between Marcella Boulevard and Colorado Street and leveled a large dip.

The final phase will take the work to Ind. 51.