Seward seaport record., 1954-04-23
Paving of 3rd. 4fh Avenues Planned For Summer

The big news in Seward this week is the paving project to be undertaken by the City of Seward during the summer ! months.
 This project brought about by the Chamber of Commerce, with the cooperation of the City, is to include paving: Third Avenue, from the present terminal of the pavement on the Seward-Anchorage High way to Railroad Street; and Fourth Avenue, from ID" Street to Railroad Street.
 Also cross sections between Third and Fourth Avenues on: Washington, Adams, Church St, Madison, Monroe, "B", and ID" Streets. The width of paving on the roadway is to be g feet. All the rest, excepting Fourth Ave. from Railroad to Jefferson, will be paved curb to curb. The estimate cost of paving, which will be the bituminous asphalt type, is $100,000. Those areas having the 22 ft. pavement, will not exceed more than $500 per front foot, according to City Mgr. O'Hara, and those areas which are paved from curb to curb. will not run more than S10.0O per front it. The asphalt has been ordered aggregate, and has been made available to the at low cost.
 MT. O'Hara also stated that overall plans of this paving pro gram calls for considerable saving over what it would be, if the work was let to contrac- tors on bid. >
 The proposed financing me thod is that the City pay one third of the cost and the pro perty owners the other two thirds. When the assessment roll is prepared, MT. O'Hara said, the opportunity will be given to pay in full for their share of the paving, but if unable to pay cash, they will be presented the opportunity to make down payment of one-third of the as sessment and the balance in twelve equal monthly install mentS.
 The city proposes to borrow the remaining amount needed on the assessment rolls from the local bank. Property owners making time payments for their share of the assessments, will pay directly to the city.
 It is the city's intent to do all of the cut and fill work, grading and sub-grade work un- der competent supervision. They propose to rent the equipment and crews of a paving contrac- tor to lay the paving.
 If the petitions, now in pre- paration, are completed by May first, MT. O'Hara stated, the pro- ject will commence at that time, and be completed in the latter part of June. The total project will include three miles of pay ing.
 Frank Roberts, Chairman of the Public Relations Committee of the Chamber of Commerce, stated in a recent interview on the paving project, that there are several reasons for the eager ness of the Chamber to push the program through as quickly as possible at this time. One reason, he said,is that the City has the opportunity now of getting the asphalt aggregate, and another reason is that Rogers Babler Go. equipment, which the City pro poses to lease will be nearby this year, in the completion of the Seward-Anchorage Highway paving project, and thus will be less costly to transport to the city paving job.
 The proposed plan of the City, MT. Roberts stated, will con form to the plans which the City hopes to enjoy later, under the Alaska Public Works Pro gram. The proposed City pro gram, he said, is not part of the Alaska Public Works Pro gram, but will fit in with later plans of the APW for a com p1ete paving project.
 Both MT. O'Hara and MT. Roberts expressed confidence, that the project will be com pleted this year.