The Signal Mountain Town Council has narrowed down the resurfacing options for James Boulevard, including the portion where historic rail ties are deteriorating the roadway, from eight to two. But the real question remains: concrete or asphalt?
"[Concrete] does cost significantly more in the beginning but the life cycle cost is much less," Greg Wilson of CTI Engineering told Council members during a work session.
In the cost estimates for the project given during the meeting, concrete was shown to cost more than twice as much as asphalt, but some Council members expressed approval for the idea of concrete's long lifespan.
"And it's on sale - 80 percent off," said Vice Mayor Susan Robertson, referring to the Transportation Improvement Project grant that will provide for 80 percent of the project, leaving the town to pay only the remaining 20 percent.
"Investing the 20 percent on a concrete street is an incredible opportunity," added Councilwoman Annette Allen.
Councilman Dick Gee said the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority recently passed a motion to spend money on repairs to the mountaintop community's sewers, so he is hesitant to go with the more expensive concrete over the asphalt in case the WWTA needs to do work beneath the road.
"I would absolutely hate putting down this pristine road and then start cutting into it," he said.
Robertson pointed out that work on James Boulevard can't begin until construction on the new health and rehabilitation center at Alexian Village is completed, which could take another 18 months.
Another item of discussion was what to do with the historical rails currently in place under the deteriorating roadway. Council members agreed that they shouldn't stay in the road due to the high cost of either reinstalling them or replacing them as well as the expensive maintenance the rails would call for in the future.
"I think it would be a huge mistake [to reinstall the rails]," said Gee. "I think there's another way to address the historical aspect and sentimentality of these rails."
The Council discussed the possibility of leaving a short section of the existing rails as a monument in the road or allowing a local artist to create a sculpture or monument out of them.
In order to obtain the grant money, Public Works Director Loretta Hopper said the town must produce a Public Involvement Plan, which involves hosting a public meeting about the project. That meeting will likely take place in late July or early August, she said.