“As part of the paving project, the contractor will be replacing storm-water piping and curb inlets and also installing new inlets where currently none exists. As of today, in places in this area, the water simply sits in the street until it evaporates or vehicles displace it out of the street. The end result will be a beautiful new street with much better drainage.
The blocks of 5th Avenue from 5th Street to 8th Street is home to some of the richest history of Laurel. Although the wooden brick streets have long been paved over, many of the 100-year-old live oaks and sections of the brick curb and gutter remain today. Balancing functionality with historic and sentimental significance is both important and difficult.
During the design process, great care has been taken to protect the trees while also attempting to provide an improved functionality of the street drainage. The downside of installing better functioning curb, gutters and inlets is the loss of the brick curb and gutters. During construction, the contractor will be directed to salvage the historic bricks to the city for re-use in historically significant projects such as repairing historic brick sidewalks in Gardiner Park, which were recently damaged by the tornado, and also in repairing historic streets within the city.
The city is also including the construction of stamped and colored asphalt pedestrian crossings at each intersection on 5th Avenue between Central Avenue and 13th Street, (see photo.)
These new crosswalks will mimic brick crosswalks in the street, providing a sense of “place” within the Downtown, Historic and Tri-Park Districts.
The 5th Avenue drainage and paving contract is expected to begin construction in May 2020.
Thank you for your patience as we continue to improve 5th Avenue and the entirety of the City of Laurel.”