COLUMBUS -- Local detour routes were discussed by the Public Property, Safety and Works Committee Wednesday in preparation for the 33rd Avenue viaduct reconstruction project.
The sub-committee of the City Council unanimously approved recommending detouring traffic along Eighth Street and 23rd Avenue as the local detour routes once the structure is closed for reconstruction in spring 2009.
No objections were given at the meeting regarding the selected detour path, but some area businessmen were concerned about the vehicle restrictions along the detour path.
Representatives from the Columbus Sales Pavilion Inc. and Central Valley Ag voiced their concerns about truck limitations, what will and will not be allowed, and how certain limitations could hurt their businesses if they or their clients have to use the highway detours for shipments.
The Nebraska Department of Roads has established the state detour routes as Highway 81 traffic to be diverted to Highway 39, through Genoa, and U.S. Highway 30 traffic to be diverted to Highway 15, through Schuyler.
Because neither business is within the city limits their operations would not fall under the local delivery qualification covered by a city ordinance that states tractor trailer trucks may use city streets to ship products and materials to businesses in Columbus.
Travis Bock, president and manager of the Columbus Sales Pavilion, 3928 Eighth St., requested the city clarify what is permitted and prohibited along the local detour route so he may advise his customers and clients about potential adjustments, such as utilizing trailers, so they can meet the legal requirement to travel along the detour.
“I’m going to lose business” if the limits are too restrictive, Bock said. “I can live with it, but I don’t like it.”
Nate McCarthy, southwest territory manager for Central Valley Ag, 1362 Third Ave., made the same request, stating that most of the trucks in their fleet and used by the coop’s clients are smaller than semis.
City Engineer Merlin Lindahl said right now restrictions apply to any truck larger than a pickup truck with a 96-inch length bed that is transporting anything other than people.
So anything over a ton, according to the current restriction, would not be permitted on the detour.
City Administrator Joseph Mangiamelli said the city would be willing to sit down and talk with businesses to identify what their needs are and if some of those needs can be met, but semi trucks would strictly be prohibited from using the detour unless their delivery is allowed by city code.
The decisions will be made at a future date, Mangiamelli said, but the city doesn’t want large trucks to use the local detour routes for safety reasons and because of the deterioration it would cause on the roads,
The committee also recommended removal of street parking on 13th Street, with the exception of the marked stalls in front of the Center for Survivors building, from 31st to 33rd Avenues in conjunction with the viaduct reconstruction because 33rd Avenue from 13th Street to 15th Street will be reconstructed as part of the project.
The intersection of U.S. Highway 30 and 13th Street will be rebuilt as part of the project and the final design will have three eastbound lanes on 13th Street instead of the existing two, but may merge back down to two lanes heading into the downtown area.
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