City of Kilgore: Downtown Sidewalk Enhancements Phases 2 & 3

SPI was hired to provide design services for the City of Kilgore Phase 2 and Phase 3 of their “Downtown Enhancements’ project which allowed the City to upgrade sidewalks and infrastructure adjacent to the “World’s Richest Acre” park and adjacent historical downtown areas. This park and surrounding area are vital to the downtown as a center for community concerts and events. The area serves as a centerpiece for the Christmas season activities that are critical to the downtown merchants.   

The existing sidewalks in some areas were more than thirty inches above gutter level, and there was no handicapped access to these areas. The project included work directly in front of many historic downtown businesses. These historic storefronts were to be protected throughout construction, and the business needed to remain open throughout the construction process.  

In addition, the improvements had to consider upgrade and/or relocation of existing water, sewer, stormwater and franchise utilities (gas, cable tv, telephone, fiber optics) within the project area. SPI had numerous meetings with the City, Main Street Advisory Board, and business owners to address concerns, and coordinate construction efforts. During construction, only two areas were allowed to be disturbed at any time.  This allowed the maximum number of parking spaces to be available to patrons at all times. The businesses located along these blocks were provided with temporary access paths, so that they could remain open for customers.   

This construction was managed in order to have the area available for opening during the holiday seasons. The project resulted in thousands of square feet of new accessible concrete sidewalks with brick pavers, individual ramp systems, numerous curb ramps, park benches, new antique street lights, and other miscellaneous beautification items.  The street lights included structural ability to hang strings of holiday lighting as well as multiple outlet and control features allowing plug-ins for vendors and easily manipulated control scenarios for events and lights.

Over 18,000 SF of new accessible concrete sidewalks with brick pavers, two individual ramp systems, numerous curb ramps, park benches, new antique street lights, and other miscellaneous beautification items.  Both projects were finished on a fast-track schedule.