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MOUNT VERNON — A Knox Pages reader asked the newsroom, what’s the status on the Dan Emmett construction project?
We have an answer.
Dan Emmett was to be completed by August
Originally, the project was to be completed, with bills paid, by Aug. 1.
According to information collected by the city engineer’s office for Knox Pages, the beginning of the community development block grant project was delayed due to financial constraints. The engineering and design for the project were not fully funded until January 2023, causing the start of construction to be pushed back to June 2024.
Also in June, the manholes necessary for the project were on back-order, adding a small delay, according to information collected by the city engineer’s office for Knox Pages. The initial funding delay caused the project’s completion date to be extended to Aug. 1, 2025. The state has officially approved the project extension date.
With the deadline extended, the city engineer’s office said the project is approximately 40% complete, with the Dan Emmett Elementary School and parking lot finished.
Details on the Northside redevelopment construction project
The Northside redevelopment construction project includes 4,572 linear feet of functioning stormwater drainage system and 32 catch basins to mitigate stormwater residential damage, according to the city’s engineer office.
Also, it’s expected to prevent clean water from entering the sanitary sewer. This would reduce the capacity and cost of water treatment at the plant, according to the city’s engineering office.
It would also reduce the replacement of failing sanitary sewer lines; a contributing cause for numerous sanitary system backups.
Also according to information collected by the city engineer’s office for Knox Pages, the project includes replacing “dead-end” water lines. They’ll be replaced by looped connections to reduce breakage and improve water pressure.
Approximately 2,525 linear feet of sidewalk will be installed on Marma Drive and Nuce Road. This project includes improved safety crosswalks to enhance local mobility in the community. It will also have new curbs and gutters at the sides of the paved street.
Also, 2,134 linear feet of sanitary sewer lines will be replaced due to continual sewer backups from the lines failing.