St. Charles Seeks Feedback on $8.5M Upgrade to Fifth Street

St. Charles is looking for community feedback on plans for $8.5 million in upgrades to Fifth Street between Bass Pro Drive and First Capitol, aimed at improving safety and aesthetics.

Project planners displayed design options at a community forum Wednesday night. Residents can also view the project designs on the city’s website.

Among the options up for discussion were three choices for a “gateway” which would serve as the entrance to the city at Fifth Street. 

One option is an historic archway with the city logo in the center, the second is two brick piers on either side of the road with brass plaques and a third is two contemporary steel posts.

Other improvements include adding a fourth lane on Fifth Street heading northbound between McDonough and First Capitol, buried electrical wires, wider sidewalks, new trees and landscaped islands in some portions of the roadway.

For now the project designs are conceptual, said Project Manager Tyson King.

The team will take the feedback and present it to the city council in August for input before moving forward with design.

“It’s going to be quite noticeable with a lot of the aesthetic enhancement that’s going to be noticed right away,” he said. “The project is a total balancing act in trying to accommodate vehicles and aesthetic enhancements.”

Councilman Tom Besselman, Ward-2, has raised concerns about the cost of the project and potential additional costs to obtain the land for the wider road. Funding for the project comes from federal, state and city sources. 

King said the $8.5 million in available funding will pay for design, right of way acquisition and construction. 

Construction is expected to start September 2014. 

See previous stories on this topic:

• Construction on Fifth Street Gateway Project Set for 2014
• Urban Housing, Small Scale Retail May Line Fifth Street Corridor