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FALL RIVER — The city’s third streetscape project is on the drawing board with the public recently weighing in on preferred improvements to a portion of Bedford Street.
“There was a lot of different feedback and questions,” said City Planner William Roth. “The next steps are the engineers are going to compile what was discussed and bring me a synopsis that I’ll forward to the oversight committee. They’ll start with concepts and design.”
Included among the ideas is one to make Bedford a two-way street. The Preservation Society of Fall River said in a statement that it wants to see the installation of “historically sensitive” street lighting as part of the project.
The $2.4 million project, funded through a bond, is set to begin some time in 2020. Work will span from 13th Street near Portugalia Marketplace to North Main Street by One Government Center.
Roth said the city is looking for other funding awards to enhance the project, which would include new signals along the project route and reconfiguration of the 13th Street intersection.
“The other task they have is the road safety audit, a process regulated by MassDOT,” said Roth of the engineering and design firm McMahon Associates. “The audit could show some road diet issues and whether we can reduce some lanes in the upper portion near 13th Street.”
Roth said the goal for the third streetscape project is to have an “open and transparent process,” said Roth.
“I want it to be a very public process. Our engineer described Bedford Street really as a gateway road into the downtown. It makes sense and it is, so let’s do it right."
The administration’s first two streetscapes prompted criticism from city councilors who have publicly questioned the quality and cost of the projects.
Councilor Leo Pelletier recently blasted the administration over the $1.2 million project on East Main Road, where patches related to utility work mar the newly paved street. Lighting also was not included in the original design plans.
City Engineer JR Frey said the lighting has been ordered and a local electric company will perform the installation.
The Purchase Street project is completed, but contractor I.W. Harding Construction is seeking nearly another $1 million for work on the project.
Frey said the administration is still in talks with the company.
The council, which approved the original bonding for streetscape projects, is considering rescinding the order and diverting the money to other road improvement projects.
Email Jo C. Goode at jgoode@heraldnews.com.