SOUTH BETHANY — Officials have approved a bid for the landscaping improvement project aimed at continuing beautification in town.
The project will include the development of rain garden beds and landscaping along the Route 1 walkway, improvement of the circle beds along the Route 1 median and landscaping improvements at the York Beach Mall shopping center.
According to Town Manager Mel Cusick, the town received two bids for the project, with the lowest bid from Lord Landscaping Inc. in Millville for $53,981.
The funding will come from the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation Enhancement Program as well as the state TEP and the town.
The project should begin this week and be completed by mid-May as the state requires the grant to be used by June 1, said Councilwoman Sue Callaway.
The money will come out of the Community Enhancement Committee’s budget.
“It’s monies that were allocated for the actual things it’s going to be (used for),” she said. “We’re excited about the new changes.”
The rain gardens along the walkway will be around each drain and existing teardrop-type beds will be removed. Additional landscaping will be added to the gardens as well.
While the circle beds along Route 1 have already been created, they have lacked landscaping, Callaway said. The stony areas in front of York Beach Mall have been barren, and the committee plans to use low-maintenance and native plants that will be able to exist within the elements along the roadway, she said.
“The goal of this project is to improve the landscaping and hopefully improve the water quality in the canals,” she said.
The cost to the town will be less than anticipated because the maintenance portion of the contract can now be done by the new full-time maintenance employee, Cusick said.
Since the state has already approved the grant request, the change, which could save the town about $3,000, will have to be made by a change order.
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