FWB readies for downtown, Beal gateway work
FORT WALTON BEACH — Downtown should soon be getting a facelift.
The Fort Walton Beach City Council has approved the engineering plans and specifications for the downtown streetscape and Beal Parkway Neighborhood Gateway Park improvements. The two projects are designed to improve aesthetics by rebuilding sidewalks, upgrading landscaping and making other enhancements.
“This has been a long time in development and I think we’re at a point where we need to move forward with it,” said City Councilman Bill Garvie.
In addition to approving the plans at their meeting Tuesday, council members voted to advertise for proposals from construction companies to complete the two projects jointly.
The downtown project has been estimated to cost $1.2 million while the Beak Parkway work has been estimated at $284,000. However, the finals cost won’t be known until the construction bids are approved in October.The city’s Community Redevelopment Agency is funding the projects.Construction is expected to start in late October or early November. Work will be done from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. to reduce interference with downtown businesses and residents. The job is expected to be completed in May 2009.
The downtown project will improve the streetscape of U.S. Highway 98 from Brooks Street east to Perry Avenue. The project includes adding decorative pavers to sidewalks, replacing the oak and Bradford pear trees with sabal palms, improving street lighting and placing some of the electric cables underground.
While the project focuses on public areas, property owners downtown can opt to improve their sidewalks with the same decorative pavers and contractor the city will use and qualify for a 50 percent matching grant from the city to pay for the work.
The Beal Parkway Neighborhood project focuses on many improvements to the intersection of Walter Martin Road and Carson Drive. They will include new signage, a clock tower and landscaping improvements.