For now, it seems the concrete islands on Fleetwood Drive in Manitowoc will stay.
The Manitowoc Common Council voted unanimously to accept the Public Infrastructure Committee’s recommendation to keep them, even when road construction starts next year.
Mayor Justin Nickels explained that he estimated the cost of the Fleetwood Drive road project to be around $200,000, subtracting the concrete islands.
“So, we took into consideration what the cost would be of that extra curb and gutter,” he stated. “Again, that all estimate because we have no clue as to what the bids will come back at.”
The question last night (December 16th) was whether the islands would be included.
Several residents on Fleetwood Drive spoke against the removal of the concrete islands for numerous reasons, including speeding and natural beauty, and they’re on other streets in the city as well.
“We recently rebuilt Waldo Blvd, we didn’t take the islands out,” one resident said. “Recently, within the last year or so, Reed Avenue has been rebuilt, we didn’t take the islands out. We have beautiful islands on Lincoln Blvd and Lakeside Blvd.”
10th District Alderman Todd Reckelberg explained that he heard from constituents and why he voted in favor of keeping the islands.
“I’m not worried about the budget,” he explained. “You know I went through all of (Nickels’) budget. I know where the money is. So, I would hope that the rest of the alders would support what they heard tonight from the residents that came out.”
Other aldermen agreed that if residents wanted to keep the islands, they would support keeping them in the area.
Fleetwood Drive road reconstruction is part of the city’s six-year $35 million dollar road investment plan put in the 2025 city budget.
It’s one of several roads to be redone next year.
