Manchester City Council Approves Contracts for Street Projects

The Manchester City Council has approved contracts for two upcoming street projects.

The 2024 Street Improvement Project will be a continuation of the East Main Street project from two years ago, with improvements from Bailey Drive nearly to Stiles Street. The Council gave the go-ahead for the project earlier this month, with some changes to property owners’ assessments. The contract for the project is being awarded to Top Grade Excavating for over one-point-three million dollars. Engineers believe the project will likely begin in early April, though that date is tentative – they’ll know more after a pre-construction meeting next month.

The Grand Avenue Extension Project, which was also given the go-ahead by the City Council at the last meeting, includes work along Grand Avenue near the fairgrounds from its current paved limits north approximately 1,200 feet and Fairview Drive from its current paved limits east nearly 300 feet. The Council voted 3-2 to approve the contract with Pirc Tobin Construction for just over $775,000, with council members Linda Schmitt and Bryan Gray voting against it. Engineers are hoping to start work on the project after the Delaware County Fair.

The Manchester City Council has also approved bringing back the hanging flower baskets to the downtown area. Last year, the Manchester Vitality Endowment Committee organized the project, with partnership from the City and XL Specialized Trailers – with an overwhelmingly positive response from the community and residents, who loved the beautification the flowers brought to the town. Committee member Julie Frick told the Council they are hoping to leave up the hanging flower baskets past Labor Day this year into the end of September. 

And the City Council has received a request to light up the West Marion Street Bridge. Melissa Lindsay, with the Delaware County Sexual Assault Response Team, says they’d like to light up the bridge with teal blue lights in April in recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Manchester Vitality Endowment says they would be interested in partnering with the team to help make this happen. The City will be checking into more details.