The Albert Lea City Council on Monday unanimously set a Feb. 25 public hearing for a $3.21 million street reconstruction project in Albert Lea.

Existing concrete and bituminous pavements are expected to be replaced on:

• Clausen Avenue from Johnson Street to Hawthorne Street

• High Street from North Shore Avenue to Valley Avenue

• Sheridan Street from North Shore Avenue to Valley Avenue

• Giles Place from Lakewood Avenue to Valley Avenue

• The alley west of Clausen Avenue from Johnson Street to High Street

Proposed work is expected to include complete removal and replacement of the pavement, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, curb and gutter, sidewalk and water main. Existing concrete and bituminous pavements will be removed and replaced with a bituminous surface, said Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams in a report.

“The existing pavements were constructed between 1948 and 1951 and are severely deteriorated beyond the ability of routine maintenance to address,” he said. “The water main, sanitary sewer and storm sewer were constructed between 1926 and 1939 and have reached the end of their useful life. If left in place, these utilities would not last as long as the new roadway and are recommended to be replaced.”

The project is expected to be paid for with assessments, general obligation bonding money, city funds and water and sewer funds.

Existing sidewalks are expected to be replaced on:

• Both sides of Clausen Avenue from Giles Place to Hawthorne Street

• Both sides of High Street from Clausen Avenue to Valley Avenue

• Both sides of Sheridan Street from North Shore Avenue to Valley Avenue

• Both sides of Giles Place from Clausen Avenue to Valley Avenue

• The south side of Giles Place from Clausen Avenue to approximately 307 feet east of Lakewood Avenue.

The city plans to replace a 4-inch water main pipe. The minimum standard the city uses is a 6-inch pipe.

Adams noted Sheridan Street and Giles Place have concrete pavement, “relatively low traffic counts and are not on the municipal state aid system.”

“Engineering does not feel that these roadways warrant the additional costs to reconstruct using concrete pavement and is proposing to rebuild all streets using a bituminous surface,” Adams said.

An estimated 113 properties are proposed to be assessed over 10 years. The average assessment is expected to be $7,377, and the median assessment $6,680. The lowest assessment will be $2,040, and the highest $15,438. The interest rate is expected to be based on bonding this year.