Ross Peterson Gearing Up for Alfred Wright Boulevard Project

IRONWOOD, MI - Tuesday, May 20, 2008 - Preparations are being made to begin the Alfred Wright Boulevard street renovation project. Pipe for the project was delivered yesterday. Construction is set to begin as soon as school lets out for the summer.

This project involves a complete overhaul of the 7/10 of a mile of the boulevard, including new sidewalks, a walking trail, curbing, gutters, catch basins, water supply and waste lines.

Ross Peterson is the general contractor for the job and Ruostala Construction will be assisting on the project. Coleman Engineering was awarded the sight supervision contract for the project.

The City was approved for a federal Small Urban Grant in the amount of $375,000 to do the Alfred Wright Boulevard project. The project funds, through the federal government, will not be available until 2009/2010. In order to move the project forward, the State offered the City a "Local Jobs Today Program" loan where the City borrows funds, using the federal grant as a guarantee, from the State. In addition to the low interest rate of 4%, the "Local Jobs Today Program" will kick in $93,000 as an incentive to move the project along.

Jim Albert