The third and final phase of a rehabilitation project on Pinecrest Drive in East Peoria has gotten the green light.
The city council voted unanimously this week to accept a $1.2 million bid from the Otto Baum Company of Morton to handle the infrastructure improvements between East Muller Road and the bridge over Interstate 474.
“I believe it’s the final work, and it’s been quite a process,” said Commissioner Dan Decker. “But in this, it’s concrete surface patching, curb replacement, storm inlet repairs, traffic signal upgrades and full resurfacing of the Pinecrest Drive median.”
Otto Baum also performed the two previous construction phases. Decker said the company’s bid was the lowest of the three submissions, coming in more than $400,000 below the highest quote.
“It’s nice that some of our bids are coming in lower than what we originally expected,” he said.
Another infrastructure project the council approved will invest close to $320,000 to repave the two overflow parking lots between Conference Center Drive and Washington Street, the new riverfront Hampton Inn that’s on track to open next month.
“Part of the agreement [with the hotel developers] was that we were going to improve the surface,” he said.
The cost of contract with Tazewell County Asphalt came in lower than the city engineer’s estimate of $363,000. The work includes crosswalk improvements and some reconfiguration of the lots.
“We will change some of the entrances and exits, to deter large vehicles from parking in there,” said Decker.
The intent is to make the lots and crosswalks near the base of the Bob Michael Bridge available to guests of the Hampton Inn, as well as nearby restaurants and the Embassy Suites convention center.
Other projects approved by the council include a relocation of the sanitary sewer on Center Street, and a phased development to repurpose the former Riverview Senior Living Facility on Centennial Drive into approximately 250 residential units.
