Streetscape Phase VI to Resume

The Streetscape Phase 6 project will soon be underway again after the Toccoa City Commission approved three change orders to the project.

The project was put on hold after utility lines including gas, water, sewer main, Windstream’s fiber optic, Georgia Power’s electrical and Truvista’s fiber optic were discovered.

According to City Manager Billy Morse, lowering the utility lines would put the project over budget.

“It is cost prohibitive to relocate those existing utilities,” said Morse. “The area we’re talking about includes the department of labor parking lot and the alleyway located behind the Toccoa Record building. It is our recommendation to approve that we accept the change orders that have been presented to get this project moving again.”

To avoid lowering the utility lines, Robert and Company, the architectural firm working on this project, requested three change orders to the project.

“We have come up with three change orders that will bring it back in line and will keep it moving again,” said Morse. “Change order 6 and 3 have a total cost of $74,185. That basically is changing the pavement section of the alleyway. To bring the project back to within budget, change order 7, which is alternate for the utility enclosures. So with the approval of change orders 3, 6 and 7, you will have a project back where it needs to be within the budget.”

Part of these changes include eliminating the dumpster enclosures and utilizing city crews to install an enclosure around the gas utilities.

These changes will be within the set budget for this project which is just under $350,000.

Overall, the project includes demolition of pavement, curbing, slab and other site items and is meant to beautify and improve the downtown area.