Council passes viaduct plans

The city of Fremont is responsible for 100 percent of the acquisition of right of way property, engineering design and project supervision for a planned urban viaduct on the west side of town.

That's why city council members unanimously passed a resolution approving a program agreement with the Nebraska Department of Roads for a grade separation urban viaduct on the west side of town.

The city agreed to pay approximately $2.6 million of the project that will provide grade separation between U.S. Highway 30 and railroad tracks owned by the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe and Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad.

Although federal funding through the state could take as long as three to five years to come through for the rest of the approximately $9 million project, Derril Marshall, acting city administrator, said it's important the city take action now.

"Right-of-way costs are going to be a critical part of this project," he said. "We want to follow (and keep costs as low as possible) all the way through."

The viaduct would begin on 23rd Street about 400 to 500 feet east of Somers Avenue and end west on 23rd Street at Colorado Avenue.

Marshall said the reason for having the viaduct is to get emergency and vehicular traffic to the west side of the city more quickly and efficiently. At times, roads in the area are blocked for several minutes at a time — contributing to the death of an infant last year.

The viaduct would close at-grade crossings at Linden and Somers avenues.

"The right of way and design are all the city's cost," Marshall said. "Anything we can do to keep the right-of-way costs down, we need to do."

In other business, the city council:

* Approved the issuance of Tax Increment Revenue Bond (Bruce V. Nelsen/TCK Leasing L.L.C).

* Approved issuance of Tax Increment Revenue Bond (JAKK Investments).

* Approved request of Keep Fremont Beautiful to use Ilgenfritz Parking Lot on April 30 for All Metals Drop Site.

* Approved request of MainStreet of Fremont, Inc. to close Main Street from Sixth Street to Eighth Street and Sixth Street from Main Street to Park Avenue sidewalks on March 19 for Easter Parade.

* Designated a "No Parking" area at 110 E. 19th between alley and driveway.

* Approved a request of Fremont Public Schools to close part of Fremont Drive at the middle school for annual Power Drive on April 9.

* Approved a Keno match of up to $8,000 equivalent to sales tax amount paid for air conditioning at Christensen Field.

* Approved Clemmons Park cell tower lease.

* Approved ordinance creating Paving District No. 543 (Bud Boulevard — Morningside South).

* Approved ordinance creating Sanitary Sewer District No. SD-701-05 (Bud Boulevard — Morningside South).

* Approved ordinance creating Water District No. WD-701-05 (Bud Boulevard — Morningside South).

* Heard second reading of ordinance creating Water Connection District No. WC-901-05 (Johnson Road and First Street).

* Heard second reading of ordinance creating Water Connection District No. WC-902-05 (Morningside Road — Luther Road to Bud Boulevard).

* Approved a resolution to accept an $18,000 bid for Memorial Park Shelter.

* Approved plans, specifications and estimate of cost and granting permission to advertise for bids for Water Extension District No. WE-803-05 (Old Highway 8 from Howard Street to Pathfinder Drive).

* Approved plans, specifications, estimate of $75,000 cost and granting permission to advertise for bids for Memorial Park Ballfield M2 Lighting Project.

* Approved a resolution disclaiming interest in vehicles stored at Nielsen's Towing.

* Heard petitions submitted to parks board about new indoor pool and decided to keep working toward a new city pool whether indoor or outdoor. A request for a specific study for an indoor pool was denied.