During its regular meeting on Monday, the governing body awarded a contract (AR-75-22) to CME Associates for almost $141,000 for the final design phase. It also approved an agreement (AR-54-22) with Amtrak for the project during its February meeting.

Train trestles pass over downtown at three intersections:

• Main Street and Elm Avenue
• Irving and West Cherry streets
• Milton Avenue and Broad Street

The Parlin-based engineering firm submitted a proposal March 8. In all, CME estimates a total of nearly $200,000 for engineering services related to the improvements, including about $50,000 for the permit phase and another $10,000 on the bid phase.

Preliminary design services were outlined in an April 2020 proposal for which CME received about an $85,000 contract nearly two years ago for Phase 1. The more recent contract will continue phases 2, 3 and 4 (plans and specifications, permitting, and bid phase, respectively) while a separate proposal will be submitted for construction phase services when the project is ready to bid.

The city has awarded and funded contracts for the project so far but ultimately, it will be reimbursed by the Special Improvement District (SID).

Installation of decorative panels over the street columns and concrete abutments and retaining walls was considered but was removed from the projected based on feedback from Amtrak, according to CME.

The surfaces to be coated on the structure include those exposed to view when looking up and accessible from below the structures, and include beams, girders, outside face of each structure and underside of track slabs. Surfaces only accessible from the track level or the state between East Cherry Street and East Milton Avenue will not be coated.

Structural repairs are “beyond the scope of this project,” according to CME, adding that it appears the structure at Main Street has never been painted and may require an SP6 Commercial Blast to remove the rust. The project may include murals painted on the east facades of the trestles.

CME estimated the construction cost for painting the three steel bridges, installation of new lighting, and milling and re-paving the streets below to be between $3.7 million and $4 million. It would be necessary to close Irving and East Cherry streets for 6 to 8 weeks and Main Street and East Milton Avenue for 3 to 4 weeks, according to the engineering firm.

The city installed decorative panels in the early 2000s to cover the concrete retaining wall at Train Station Plaza. CME estimated the cost for installing decorative panels over the remaining concrete abutments and retaining walls to be about $750,000. In its discussions with Amtrak, CME said, they recommended the city not install the panels.