The first phase of Galena's Walnut Street reconstruction will begin in the spring.

The village wants to rebuild the street after a recent study showed it lacks a proper base under the pavement, service director Scott Jamison said.

The street is still safe to drive on, mayor Tom Hopper has said.

The project will be divided into three phases. The first phase is slated to begin work on March 15, to reconstruct Walnut Street from Holmes Street to state Route 3.

The total cost of the first phase of reconstruction is about $260,000, Jamison said. The village received $190,999 in August from the Ohio Public Works Commission for the first phase. The village had applied for $224,970.

EMH&T, Columbus, will handle the engineering and construction management for the first phase at a cost to the village of about $36,000.

The first phase likely will be complete by May 15, Jamison said, but must be completed by June 15, according to conditions of the grant.

Village officials want to remove the first 10 inches of asphalt to create a base. The street then will receive a new asphalt surface.

Bids for construction will go out Dec. 1. Village officials hope the bids will come in low enough that any remaining money can be used to repair 600 feet of sidewalk on the west side of Walnut Street, north of Holmes Street, which has become severely deteriorated.

"A lot of times, the bids are coming in favorably because of the economy. People need to work and they want to keep their crews together," Jamison said.

The sidewalk also needs to be widened to comply with the American Disabilities Act. Walnut Street's sidewalk is about 42 inches wide and needs to be at least 48 inches wide so two wheelchairs can pass each other on the sidewalk, Jamison said.

The cost to repair the sidewalk will be about $10,000, said Travis Eifert, the EMH&T engineer on the project.

"It's not much when you're looking at the (cost of the) overall project," Eifert said.

Galena in October applied for a $292,500 Ohio Public Works Commission grant for the second phase of work.

That phase will reconstruct Walnut Street from High Street to Holmes Street, Jamison said.

"That one requires sidewalks and stormsewer work. It won't be a complete re-do on the storm sewer, it's too expensive. We have to correct some grades, which will affect drainage," he said.

If the village cannot include the sidewalk repair in the first phase of the project, it will take another shot with the second phase, Eifert said.

"We have a better option of getting more amenities in the project in that package," Eifert said.

Jamison did not have details on the third phase and was unable to give a total budget for all three phases.

"Timing is important," Jamison said. "The price of oil can have a dramatic effect (on costs.)"

calexis@thisweeknews.com