April 18, 2024
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Princeton’s Thompson Street under construction

By Goldie Rapp

Workers from Welch Bros Inc. prepare to begin sewer work on Thompson Street in Princeton. (Scott Anderson)

PRINCETON — The Thompson Street sewer improvement project is now underway, digging will begin next week.

Construction stakes were set out early this week and crews began moving equipment and supplies onsite.

A truck hauling new sewer lines is parked at the corner of Thompson and 6th Streets in Princeton. (Scott Anderson)

This project entails installing 1,330 feet of sanitary sewer between Fifth and Sixth streets. The main purpose of this project, according to City Manager Theresa Wittenauer, is to reduce and eliminate basement backups and sewer surcharging by allowing for more unrestricted flow, especially during major storm events.

Princeton Mayor Joel Quiram said this week at Monday’s city council meeting that this project will eliminate the need to set up pumps around the southeast side of town during heavy rains.

The total cost of this project came in at $463,833. Superior Excavating is the hired contractor for the job. The project is expected to take about four to five weeks to complete.

Excavators begin work on Thompson Street in Princeton. The city of Princeton will be commencing with the installation of a new sanitary sewer on Thompson Street between 5th and 6th streets. (Scott Anderson)

Thompson Street between Fifth and Sixth streets will be closed during the daytime while construction is ongoing. The street will be open before and after each work day.

Wittenauer said trenching will be topped off with gravel and allowed to settle for a period of time until it can be resurfaced.

Quiram said Monday that it doesn’t matter what funding is used for this project, sales tax monies or motor fuel tax, it’s taxpayer money at work.

Princeton has been getting extra Motor Fuel Tax reimbursement allotments from the state during COVID. Last year, Princeton received a total of $210,868 from MFT. To date this fiscal year, it has received $375,233.

Wittenauer said this means more street improvement projects are being schedule for summertime.

“Excuse the mess, but there’s a lot of projects that are going to be happening and I think most people are very welcoming of this,” she said.

In addition to MFT, the city is also collecting on average around $4,000 per month from the 2019 quarter percent sales tax increase, which will put back into street repairs.