The Sisters City Council is seeking public comment on the Cascade Avenue Improvement Project on Thursday, October 25, 7pm at Sisters City Hall. The final streetscape design, developed after a yearlong public outreach process, calls for colored concrete in keeping with an overall streetscape design scheme approved by the City Council in December 2011.
Specifically, the Council would like to hear from the public about the construction staging options that were presented at a community workshop held on October 17.
As first proposed, the project would be constructed over five months, between January and May, 2014, and would require a full closure of Cascade Avenue between Pine and Larch. Wintertime construction allowed for the option of the new road being concrete pavement. The final streetscape design, developed after a yearlong public outreach process, calls for colored concrete in keeping with an overall streetscape design scheme approved by the City Council in December, 2011.
Over the summer, Cascade Avenue merchants stepped forward to express concern about the impact of the full closure of Cascade Avenue on their businesses. In response, a revised construction management option was presented at the October 17 community meeting. Under the new option, drainage and curb work would be constructed between September and November, 2013. The installation of sidewalk pavers would occur over the winter of 2014, as weather allows. A rolling three block closure of Cascade Avenue would occur between March and May, 2014, including the completion of sidewalks and irrigation. Finally, new asphalt pavement would be installed in May 2014, with this work being performed at night. Overall, the amount of time Cascade Avenue is closed to through traffic would be minimized.
In addition to the amount of time Cascade Avenue would be closed to through traffic, the key feature between the two options is the pavement treatment: Concrete versus Asphalt (which is required for the new option.)
Concrete can be installed during the winter, has a longer lifecycle (up to 50 years) and allows for treatment options (i.e. coloring) that enhance the overall design scheme. Concrete pavement has to cure for a minimum of seven days before traffic is allowed on it. To install concrete uniformly over a six block stretch requires full closure of the road.
Asphalt paving can be accelerated. It can be installed at night with traffic able to access the newly paved area the next day. Asphalt will provide a different color and texture than concrete, in relation to the overall streetscape design scheme. Asphalt has a shorter life cycle (up to 15 years) and has to be applied in warmer temperatures but can be replaced more easily with a new grind and lift application which can be performed at night. Asphalt patching is easier to do and is more cost effective.
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