NEBRASKA CITY -  City commissioners moved forward Monday to replace the Great Depression-era drainage culvert on south 19th Street near Wyuka Cemetery.

Marty Stovall, construction and facilities manager, said the city and Southeast Nebraska Development District made application for flood recovery funds to replace the culvert, which was built in 1935.

He said a 1983 repair is holding together, but future flooding events on South Table Creek could disrupt the passageway.

Stovall: "I see this is as having potential to be our next Fourth Corso viaduct situation."

Stovall said three firms submitted proposals for preliminary engineering and he recommends JEO Consulting. According to grant guidelines, the firm that does the preliminary engineering can not later design the project.

The culvert replacement is expected to cost $500,000. Due to 2019 flooding, state Economic Development  awarded $107 million in relief funds and the Southeast Development District applied for grant funds.

 

Stovall said 19th Street is  collector route for the industrial district hat has daily traffic of 1,400 cars.

In other action, Mayor Bryan Bequette appointed Stovall interim city administrator due to the departure of Grayson Path.