St. Joseph City Commissioners approved several items in regards to the Anchors Way High Water Infrastructure Grant project.

During this past Monday’s meeting, city engineer Tim Zebell spoke in front of commissioners giving an update on the project, including an alternative of reconstructing approximately all of Anchors Way.

“We wanted to do like a levee system, but as we got into the analysis, we were going to have to get too far under private property. It wasn’t practical to do it so we looked at raising the road and by reconstructing about 2,200 feet of it. It proves to be the best solution for both Lake Michigan levels and those higher levels due to the wind impact.”

The total project to raise the roadway would cost $1,568,000 which will include a new higher road, gravity storm sewer, a pump station, and approximately 35-year level of service.

“I do need to clarify that that is the road and the drainage improvements only, so you’re getting an apples to apples comparison from that standpoint, but you have to add about $900,000 to a million dollars to that to do the other utility improvements,” Zebell said. “So it brings that total to about $2.5 million dollars.”

Commissioners amended the budget to fund the increased scope of the alternative, a change order with Wade Trim to add design services for water main replacement, and a proposal with Point Blue to complete a site environmental investigation.