Pothole repairs begin

The town of Saratoga has several construction projects in the works this week.

Town Engineer Chuck Bartlett said town crews will be repaving roadways with pot-holes.

Roadways on Spring Avenue, State Avenue, Hickory Avenue, Third Street, Second Street and Main Avenue will all see some construction this week.

“We are going to start digging Monday,” Bartlett said.

Because asphalt is in high-demand during the summer months, construction in these areas will take longer than usual.

Saratoga residents should expect to see roadways partially blocked during construction.

Veterans Island

Saratoga crews are also working towards building the pedestrian bridge.

The bridge, which will stretch from Veterans Island to the Saratoga hot pool will begin construction in the near future. Bartlett said they are still waiting for the river level to recede so they are able to get trucks to the island.

The popular Saratoga park will be partially open until construction begins. Because of the size and the amount of the equipment used to build the bridge, the park will be closed during construction.

Bartlett said the town plans on purchasing and laying down sediment on Veterans island’s walk path soon. Large amounts of the sand and gravel, which made up the walking path around the island, was washed away with the flood. When the sediment will be replaced and how much it will cost is uncertain at this time.

River Project

Plans for the Upper North Platte River Restoration Project were delayed again, as a preliminary report from Stantec Inc. will be filed on Aug. 1.

In a letter from Stantec to the town of Saratoga, Project Manager Nathan Jean said the delay was to make sure Stantec could give the project the appropriate amount of attention.

Stantec had previously postponed the preliminary report from late June to late July after several of the engineers working on the project were tending to family matters. A geomorphology report, completed by Stantec, on the river has been released and is available on the town’s website.

Saratoga Mayor John Zeiger said it unlikely the delay will have any significant impact on the project itself. A public meeting sharing the preliminary results will take place, but a date has yet to be set.

The Saratoga Town Council will meet next on Aug. 6 instead of Aug. 5, in order to accommodate the Saratoga Police Department’s National Night out.