Two projects that will enhance infrastructure in uptown Collinsville were approved unanimously by the City Council Monday.

All 124 decorative light fixtures in the streetscape area will be retrofitted for LED light bulbs and the existing lights replaced. Some of the fixtures are 13 years old. The existing HID lights are replaced about every two years, Director of Streets Rod Cheatham said. The LED lights are expected to last 10 years.

LED lights are also more energy efficient, allowing the city to save an estimated $12,000 each year in energy costs and, when labor costs are factored in, an estimated $108,000 over the lifespan of the bulbs.

Photo by Roger Starkey

Guarantee Electrical Construction, of Granite City, will perform the work, including submittal of the grant application to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Guarantee Electrical Construction will receive $48,180 from the city. ILDCEO will reimburse Collinsville 75 percent of the costs, or $36,211, bringing the city’s final cost to $11,969.

The LED lights will illuminate existing dark spots between the fixtures and, despite the lack of heat generated by the lights, there is no danger of snow buildup because the fixtures are inverted globes, Cheatham said.

The other infrastructure project approved is the replacement of a sewer main and two manholes on Clay Street, between Center Street and Morrison Avenue. H&M Backhoe Service Inc, of Swansea, will replace 400 feet of eight-inch sewer main and two manholes on Clay Street between Center Street and Morrison.

Tax Increment Financing will be used to pay the total project cost of $98,665.85. Work will begin in early October.

The undertaking is the first phase of a project to improve all of the sewers in the uptown area. The remaining sewers will receive new lining. All work is projected to be completed during 2014, Dennis Kress, director of water/wastewater said.

Also approved by the City Council was an ordinance authorizing an engineering agreement between the city and Oats Associates, of Collinsville, for phase three of the Downtown Streetscape project. During an Aug. 12 meeting, the Council authorized Mayor John Miller to execute an interagency agreement between the city and the Illinois Department of Transportation for phase three at a cost of $1.085 million.

Collinsville will pay $348,000 of the total cost; including $131,000 for the engineering services provided by Oats Associates.

The third stage of the Streetscape project will continue renovations in uptown Collinsville to match enhancements completed on Main and Clinton streets in 2003 and 2008. Church Street from Clinton Street to Illinois Route 159 and Center Street from Main Street to Church Street will receive road resurfacing, new concrete handicap accessible sidewalks, brick-imprinted, asphalt crosswalks, shepherds hook pedestrian street lamps, decorative street signage, street trees and cast iron tree grates.

The majority of the work will begin next spring.

Related story: http://metroindependent.com/2013/08/14/downtown-streetscape-project-enters-next-phase/798/