The City of Noblesville recently released its year-end annual report. The report details major accomplishments from every city department and within the community during 2016, and each week, Current in Noblesville will be highlighting a portion of the report. This week, it’s engineering. To see the full report, visit bit.ly/2lDGclL.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The engineering department has a staff of 12 employees and manages the installation of all public works infrastructure for new residential, commercial and industrial developments.
A major responsibility of the engineering department is the scoping, design, management and inspection of all capital improvement roadway projects. In general, staff manages all major roadway projects, which includes annual resurfacing to sidewalk and alley replacements, from preliminary conception to final completion. The department also provides construction management, support services for other city departments and develops procedures and guidelines for prospective developments.
It also handles right-of-way and property purchasing management and oversees the city’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program, manages ADA and Title VI programs, and administers the city’s traffic committee and field support for traffic operations.
REALIGNMENTS and RESURFACINGS
Noblesville realigned 17th Street at Conner Street (Ind. 32/38) near the Ivy Tech Community College campus, formerly Noblesville Middle School. The road previously had an offset intersection at Conner Street.
Ninth Street also had its first major resurfacing since 2004. The focus of the work ran from Logan Street to Pleasant Street. Additional side streets were resurfaced and repairs were done to curbs and alley approaches as part of the project.
Noblesville has approximately 13 miles of public alleys throughout the city. One city block is equal to 1/16 of a mile. In 2016, the city began a new initiative to address deteriorating alleys. To begin the process, 60 approaches and 0.9 miles of the worst rated alleys were repaired at a cost of $450,000.
SIDEWALK REPLACEMENT
The engineering department resurfaced or replaced nearly twice as many linear feet of sidewalk in 2016 compared to 2015. These projects fixed ADA trip hazards and provided pedestrian connectivity. Major sidewalk projects in 2016 included Southwest Quad, Fairfield Farms, Pine Knoll, Little Chicago Road along Lions Creek Apartments and Creekside at Cedar Path.
196TH STREET TRAIL
In 2016, 2,500 linear feet of sidewalk and trail was rehabilitated, including old sidewalk replaced with a new segment of trail along 196th Street from Hague Road to Morse Park and Beach. The project also removed an outdated bridge crossing with a new crossing to accommodate a full trail. The new trail connector effectively connects an existing trail network with Forest Park and downtown Noblesville to Morse Park and Beach. The project also will serve as a connector to potential future phases of the Levee Trail.
