Dexter Village Council Approves Street Projects for 2013

Plans to add sidewalks along Hudson Street in the village of Dexter took a big step forward on Monday.

The Dexter Village Council voted to approve the rehabilitation of Hudson Street from the Cottonwood Condos to Second Street. The project is expected to cost roughly $102,334 and will include crushing and shaping the roadway, and installing sidewalks on Second Street from Hudson to Inverness streets. The project will be paid for with monies in the village's street fund.

According to information provided by the village council, the "crush and shape" method of street rehabilitation occurs by pulverizing the existing pavement, then shaping the resulting base material, followed by asphalt paving.

This technique is generally used in locations with open ditches, and where an adequate pavement cross section is present. Village officials said Hudson Street meets both of these criteria. The rehabilitation should provide a 10 to 15 year life for the road.

Courtney Nicholls, assistant village manager, said there are also plans to add sidewalk on Hudson Street from the alley to Third Street, and from Third Street to Second Street.

"We will be notifying all of the residents in the area (about the project)," Nicholls said. "We will work through the design phase to make sure residents have input. Adding a sidewalk on Hudson Street is a good thing for the village."

Nicholls said the project is in the preliminary planning stages and no construction date has been set.