Sidewalk step

Portland took the next step to ensure Votaw Street will be safe to walk along.

The city’s board of works met Thursday and awarded a $51,082.50 contract to Choice One Engineering so it can begin acquiring through easement parcels of land needed for Indiana Department of Transportation to build sidewalks along Votaw Street.

The needed land is expected to be acquired through the city’s right of way along the street, Choice One project manager Ryan Lefeld said. In addition to the new contract, the total project, estimated to cost $779,685, will be mostly paid for by INDOT but won’t be built until 2022 at the earliest.

“This will make it a little safer,” Portland Mayor John Boggs said after the meeting.

A natural beaten path has been created on the north side of Votaw Street because so many walk along there to get to Walmart. Currently, sidewalks are only along Votaw Street from Meridian Street to Pleasant Street.

The project would give Portland walkers a safe path to the store in addition to CrownPointe, IU Health Jay and Haynes Park. Boggs said he’s even seen strollers being pushed along the walkway, further indicating the need for a sidewalk.

The new sidewalk is expected to begin on the south side of Votaw Street from Commerce Street to Haynes Park. It will then cross to the north side of the street in front of IU Health Jay and continue to Walmart.

Portland is expected to pay 20% — an estimated $155,937 — of the total tab with INDOT paying for the rest. Choice One was also hired as a consultant and designer for the project in March of 2019 and is acting as a subcontractor for Butler, Fairman & Seufert.

Lefeld said easement agreements are needed before the city can advertise for bids for the construction job and that Choice One is working with the appropriate homeowner’s to secure the needed easements.

In other business, board members Jerry Leonhard, Steve McIntosh and Boggs approved a $33.60 leak adjustment for a house at 408 E. Seventh St.