An engineer’s report confirmed what the Southgate city council and many residents already knew: Repairs are much needed on Blossom Lane and Valley View Drive in the city.
Jim Shumate, an engineering consultant with Verdantas, told the council during its April 16 meeting that they would divide the project into sections.
“On Valley View, we’ve broken it into two separate sections because for the upper section, which is Blossom to Heather, we’re going to tear that out and rebuild it,” said Shumate. “So we’re doing a tear out, removal and replacement. For the bottom part, from Heather down to the cul-de-sac, we’re just going to put in new curbs and overlay that.”
On Blossom, from Valley View to Tracy, Shumate said they plan to widen it and remove and replace the road.
Council discussed the cost and funding. Shumate gave a breakdown of the costs for the different sections, but overall the total cost estimate (with 30% built in for contingencies), would be a little over $1 million.
Mayor Jim Hamberg said he discussed the issue with treasurer Patty Edgley, and the plan would be to bond the money through the Kentucky League of Cities.
“I’m considering $1,340,000 at this point. We would go out to bond in that particular case, over 20 years,” said Hamberg. “That’s about $70,000 in a year, and hopefully, it’ll be about a five and a half interest rate. These are rough figures.”
He would get better projections after speaking with the Kentucky League of Cities.
When asked about the availability of project funds or funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, Hamberg said those funds are already committed to other city projects, including the new police evidence room, fire department needs and other commitments. If excess funds become available, they could be put toward the project.
After cost, timing is a large factor in planning the project. The area has experienced water main breaks over the years, and the Northern Kentucky Water District plans to do major repairs in that area. The street construction would have to wait until the water district’s project was completed.
The hope is that the water district will start its project shortly so that the work can be completed before the end of the year. The street repair project would follow. The plan, said Hamberg, would be to bid out the work in February 2026.
He said that, taking it in sections, the work on Valley View from Heather to the cul-de-sac could be ready to begin by mid-April and be completed sometime in June. Soon after that, the top half of the street, from Blossom to Heather, would be the next phase and would be completed by October. The work on Blossom could start in August 2026 and also be completed by the end of October.
The council voted to approve the mayor’s work with the water district and the Kentucky League of Cities to plan the project for future consideration.