12th Street work nears completion

FINISHING TOUCH: Jim Bright of Rogers Asphalt levels out the dirt along 12th Street’s newly-constructed sidewalks Tuesday. Street paving will begin soon, with project completion targeted for the third week of September. The Observer/BILL RAUTENSTRAUCH

City of La Grande Public Works Director Norm Paullus said the concrete work began last week and was completed on Tuesday.

Paullus said street paving will begin soon. The improvement project is expected to be complete and the street open by the third week of September.

The project, begun early this summer, takes in the stretch of 12th Street between G Avenue and Gekeler Lane.

It is a joint City of La Grande and Union County effort that includes widening and paving of the street, new curbs, gutters and sidewalks, and new storm drains.

Total cost is about $700,000. The city received a $251,000 Oregon Immediate Opportunity Grant for the project.

Other funding comes from formation of a Local Improvement District, and in-kind contributions from the city and county.

The county’s share of the work included taking out the old paving. The city is installing storm drains.

To hold costs down for residents within the LID, the city contributed between $70,000-$80,000 in street user fees to the project, Paullus said.

Rogers Asphalt is the lead contractor in the concrete and paving work.