Bastrop, Tx–Tuesday the Bastrop City Council is expected to endorse a plan by the Bastrop Economic Development Corp. board to spend $897,000 on improving the part of Chestnut Street (Loop 150) between Water Street and the Union Pacific Railroad.
In a special meeting at 7:30 a.m. Friday the BEDC board formally accepted the base bid by Smith Contracting Co. of Austin for the work along with two alternative items, one of which is designed to protect large trees along the project route. The other addition calls for designing, casting and installing more than 40 bronze medallions highlighting events from Bastrop’s colorful history in new sidewalks which are included in the work plan.
The board could not act on the contract at its regular session Monday because it was not adequately listed on the meeting agenda.
A tree specialist will oversee the tree protection work, and a local bronze foundry will design, produce and install the medallions, an addition urged by Bastrop Main Street Program officials.
Smith Contracting has done at least four previous projects for Bastrop, most visibly the utility, drainage and street reconstruction of Pecan Street between Chestnut and Texas 71. Engineering estimates for the Chestnut Street work initially put the cost at $1.4 million.
Work is expected to begin later this year.
$897,000 is a huge money but if the purpose is to make the Chestnut Street looks good. Why not?right?