Harvey Street project is set

$3.5 million reconstruction begins in May, will impact traffic

On the heels of a public meeting earlier this week, plans to reconstruct one of Ely’s most traveled streets are moving ahead.

A major reconstruction of Harvey Street is in the works for 2025, and motorists should plan for road closures and some disruption in traffic.

The $3.5 million project is being coordinated by St. Louis County, and will run from Central Avenue to Ninth Avenue East.

If all goes as planned, work will begin in May and continue through the fall.

Portions of Harvey Street will be closed to traffic, and parking is not allowed while construction is ongoing.

“They’ll be phasing the work while taking into consideration the school schedule, the Fourth of July, the festivals,” said city clerk-treasurer Harold Langowski. “It’s the same county crew that has worked on projects here in the past.”

Officials say some intersections may be open, except when work is occurring directly in the intersection.

The intersection at Fourth Avenue East and Eighth Avenue East will remain open except for mill and overlay work.

“Fourth and Eighth will not be dug up,” said Langowski.

Langowski added that closures will occur in the same manner as when a similar project was done to reconstruct James Street.

The project has been in the works for years and design calls for two, 11-foot driving lanes with an eightfoot parking lane on each side, along with curb and gutter work.

It also includes sidewalk replacement on both the north and south sides of the street, except where there is no sidewalk currently, which is on the south side between Seventh and Ninth Avenue East.

A storm sewer system will also be reconstructed.

“The big portion is the storm sewer realignment from Third Avenue East to Central,” said Langowski. “We’re responsible for the storm sewer. That’s something the city will have to pay for.”

The project also includes a water line replacement near the Ely Steam Bath and storm sewer reconstruction on Conan Street between Second and Third Avenue East.

The city is seeking grant funds to cover some of its obligations for the project.

Original plans called for reconstruction of Harvey all the way to Highway 1, but those have been scaled back and are eyed for some time in the future.

About 20 people attended a public hearing Monday on the project and concerns ranged from traffic disruption and parking and the impact of blasting.

“There were some concerns and the people that park on Harvey will have to find someplace else to park during construction,” said Langowski. “We can’t work around parked cars.”