The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the city of Hutchinson have decided on final designs for the downtown area’s 2020 amenities.
According to MnDOT communications director Mandi Lighthizer, for its 2020 makeover, downtown will see the additions of bump-outs, portable planters, benches, colored concrete, banners, refurbished light poles and trashcans that meet a consistent “wrought-iron” aesthetic.
“In June, we started talking to the community about streetscaping and the downtown amenities, things that people have opinions on,” Lighthizer said. “(An online survey) showed that the community supported the proposed amenity designs.”
The refurbished light poles will feature LED smart lighting, which allow for adjustable brightness. Because wayfinding became a community topic of interest, Lighthizer said, banners will be hung from the poles.
The added trash receptacles and portable planters will have similar arch-themed designs, she said.
Lighthizer added that MnDOT will likely begin rolling out information on the 2020 project’s southern portion, which will include resurfacing streets and ensuring sidewalks are in keeping with state accessibility standards, in February. This part of the project will take place from Fifth Avenue to the roundabout on North High Drive and State Highway 15.
“We want to begin talking about how we might stage construction, and we want to make sure people understand there will be an entire other portion to the project,” she said.
Construction for the project’s downtown phase is set to begin in May 2020 and end in October that year. The resurfacing phase of the project will likely overlap with this period.
MnDOT’s latest cost estimate on the project is in the ballpark of $6.5 million, and the city expects to provide an additional $2 million. According to City Administrator Matt Jaunich, the costs will become clearer at the end of 2019.
“There will be city costs for aesthetic items, underground infrastructure and probably sidewalk work,” he said. “Part of what’s going on right now is getting exact numbers. There have been conversations about adding art to the project, which would be a city cost. ... The dollar amounts will play a role in what (additional amenities) the city council includes.”
Jaunich stressed that none of the costs are yet final.
The basic design of the project is meant to optimize driving efficiency and area livability while minimizing ecological impact and construction cost.
The city will still move forward with its plan to narrow Main Street’s traffic lanes by about five feet. This will allow sidewalk modifications that will meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
