COVINGTON, Ky. - The teeth-rattling drive on Latonia Avenue is about to get better.
Weather permitting, the long-awaited second phase of the reconstruction of the heavily traveled city street will kick off the week beginning April 30, Covington’s Public Works Department announced today. The $631,000 project should be finished by Oct. 30.
“This is a big deal, a big project,” said Rick Davis, Public Works director for the City. “This has been a priority of ours for years, and I know residents will be thrilled when it’s finished.”
Almost 4,100 cars a day travel on the street, which connects Madison Pike and Winston Avenue through the West Latonia neighborhood.
The route has gradually become a hazard for vehicles’ suspensions, marked by potholes, uneven pavement and a crumbling road surface - damage caused by erosion below the surface, aging asphalt and the scars of a water line-replacement project.
The first phase of the reconstruction - from Madison Pike to West Southern Avenue and around the corner on Southern down to Mabel Avenue - was finished in 2015. This second phase on Latonia Avenue only occurs between West Southern and a point 166 feet south of West 35th Street, in front of Kelly Bros. Home & Design Center.
Riegler Blacktop of Florence was the low bidder and is doing the work.
The City is sending a letter to residents this week to discuss the construction timeline and pending parking restrictions. Signs detailing those restrictions will be posted 24 hours in advance, and the City will do everything it can to maintain residents’ access to their driveways and keep traffic flowing, Davis said. One side of the street will be done at a time, and in small sections.
“Construction is not going to be pretty. It will be difficult sometimes,” he said. “But we’re going to do it in phases and mitigate the disruption ... and I know the finished road will be worth it. We appreciate everyone’s patience.”
Down to the penny, the second phase will cost $631,148.06 and is being financed through an 80/20 arrangement. The 80 percent is coming from a federal roads program funneled to Covington through the OKI Regional Council of Governments and the 20 percent from the City’s community development block grant program.
The City Commission voted to allocate road money to complete the Latonia Avenue project when it approved the Fiscal Year 2018 budget and recently approved Riegler as the contractor.
The project is more comprehensive than originally envisioned: The final project will include not only a total curb-to-curb reconstruction but also new water lines (already installed) and a separation of the problematic combined sewer system. The existing sewer will be used only for sanitary sewage, and a new network for storm water will be installed.
“If we’re going to do a major rebuild like this, we’re going to do it right,” Davis said.