Dorchester road projects nearing halfway point

The Village of Dorchester Board received updates on the road and utility projects encompassing Third and North Streets at their meeting on Aug. 3.

Scot Balsavich of Cooper Engineering said the projects are running on time.

South Third Street gas realignment work is being done by WE Energies. All of the curb and gutters are in place on South Third Street.

“I think we have one crack so far that we didn’t expect,” Balsavich said. “We’ll see if that’s going to be a problem and if we have to replace it.”

North Third Street is ready for curb and gutter placement.

The crosswalk from South to North Third Street has been realigned to be an angular crosswalk. The realignment helped the sidewalk and crosswalk be ADA compliant.

The North Front Street water mains have been placed. Once testing is done, water can be reconnected to residents’ homes. Balsavich said sanitary sewer will be the next project for North Front Street. Once the sewer has been placed, curb and gutter can be placed.

“Realistically the project is on schedule,” Balsavich said. “I know that there’s been challenges along the way but now people can get to their homes.”

Asphalt placement will be one of the upcoming steps for the project. Crews will place two lifts of asphalt on the roadways. Balsavich said both lifts should be done before the snow flies.

Other business

_ Construction on the new lift station is scheduled to begin the week of Aug. 8. Balsavich said the parts that construction crews have been waiting on will be delivered the second or third week in August. The lift station building will be delivered at the end of August and crews will need to have the lift station and valve well in place before the building can be put in place.

_ The board discussed options to fund and replace parts on the old Dorchester school playground. The playground used to be funded by the parents’ group, DASE. Board member Daniella Schauer said she contacted someone from DASE who said the park is now the village’s park and should be funded by the village.

The board decided they would open the funding up to the community and see if any local company would like to donate money toward replacing equipment. The entity would get some sort of naming rights if they decided to donate. A letter to local companies will be drafted and presented at the next meeting.