The Pella City Council further discussed hard surfacing of 218th Avenue near the Shady Brook development following regular business Tuesday.

Project engineer Garden and Associates presented about alignment alternatives for the road. During a Policy and Planning meeting this spring, Council gave direction to prepare an actual cost estimate for an Urban Section 31-foot PCC roadway with at least one sidewalk of trail, utilizing the “T” intersection alignment. The City plans to hard surface 218th Avenue from just south of Shady Brook Lane to the end of the pavement on Neil Drive.

Initial budget numbers included a 24’ wide 6” asphalt (ACC) roadway with 2’ gravel shoulders in a rural cross section, ditches on both sides, and culvert improvements for $463,000; however, if Council decides to officially proceed with an urban cross section including sidewalks, the cost of the project could increase to $1.25 million, including engineering and a 10% contingency.

Currently, the existing gravel curve at the intersection of 218th Avenue and Neil Drive is substandard, requiring a reduced speed. In order to redesign with a paved curve to meet full Statewide Urban Design and Specifications and American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials standards, the curve would be located through the pond located at the City’s soccer complex.