CAROLINA BEACH — Carolina Beach is getting ready to vote on approving a nearly $1 million contract to construct a 1.2-mile paved path called The Island Greenway Project.
There are two items on the Town Council’s agenda for its Oct. 10 meeting regarding the project, the first of which would request additional funding from Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization, and the second would award the contract for construction to Civil Works Contracting.
The Island Greenway Project has been in the works for several years, according to Assistant Town Manager Ed Parvin.
“The project is identified as a priority in 2011 CB Bicycle Multi-Use Plan, and also noted as priority in Cape Fear Commutes 2035 Plan and Wilmington New Hanover Greenway Plan,” he said.
The project would help connect areas of Carolina Beach with a multi-use paved path, one of several items that was recently presented during the Parks and Recreation Master Plan workshop.
The low bid from Civil Works Contracting came in at $943,812 and current funding for the project is $985,416, but this does not include a required 15 percent Department of Transportation administrative fee, or a 10 percent contingency fund for the project according to town documents.
If approved, the town would request an additional $166,804 from the WMPO and match 20 percent of the additional $208,506 with local funds, equaling $41,701.
If approved, the WMPO will vote on approving or denying the grant request during its Oct. 27 board meeting, and then forward it to the Board of Transportation for approval in December.
“The Island Greenway Project consists of development of 1.2 miles of 10-feet wide paved multi-use-path beginning at Mike Chappell Park and continuing south to Alabama Ave. The entire route is within the scenic MOTSU buffer area east of Dow Road. This route provides a safe and convenient off-street pedestrian and bicycle connection between the rapidly developing Wilmington Beach area and central neighborhoods to the north, (Carolina Beach) Elementary School, Lake Park, and the central business district,” Parvin said.
The contract cannot be officially awarded to Civil Works Contracting until the NCDOT reviews and approves a plan, but once approved, the town will be able to award the contract during its Oct. 24 workshop or Nov. 14 meeting, according to the Town Council agenda.
Construction for the project is projected to start in December and the Parvin said the town hopes to have the greenway completed by mid-summer of 2018.
Michael Praats can be reached at Michael.p@localvoicemedia.com
