Kyle city leaders approved construction on North Burleson Street Tuesday, a process city officials admitted could be “painful” for local residents.
The project will consist of rebuilding and widening North Burleson Street, along with the construction of an extension of Marketplace to I-35. A contract was approved with M.A. Smith Contracting Co. Inc., an Austin-based company, for an amount not to exceed about $6.9 million, a figure that includes a five percent contingency.
“It does give five percent contingency, but we’re still under budget of what we thought we would have to pay initially,” City Engineer Leon Barba said.
“(The Burleson Street project will) dramatically increase safety in that area,” Mayor Travis Mitchell said
However, sections of the road will have to be closed for much of the process, Barba said. The city will have to work with the businesses located along Burleson Street to ensure they do not lose customers as a result of the construction.
“It’s going to be a painful process for our citizens as we build this road,” he said.
Barba anticipates work will begin after Labor Day and last 15 to 18 months, projected to be completed around spring 2020.
The item was approved 5-0 by Kyle City Council. Councilmembers Daphne Tenorio and Damon Fogley were absent.
