Two Bellevue sidewalk projects get council OK

The City Council on Monday approved two sidewalk projects that are part of the city’s Neighborhood Enhancement Program, one on Southeast 24th Street and the other on Northeast Eighth Stree..

The City Council on Monday approved two sidewalk projects that are part of the city’s Neighborhood Enhancement Program.

Under the NEP, started in 1988, residents identify and vote on which high-priority, city-funded projects will be built in their neighborhoods. In addition to sidewalks, typical upgrades include park improvements, school playground equipment, new trail connections and street lights.

Sidewalk projects given the green light on Monday were:

Southeast 24th Street. Sidewalk will be installed where a section is missing on the north side of Southeast 24th Street, between 139th Avenue Southeast and Kamber Road, in the Sunset neighborhood. The contractor’s bid of $71,565 is 51 percent below the engineer’s estimate for the work.

Northeast Eighth Street. To replace sections of sidewalk damaged by tree roots on the north side of Northeast Eighth Street, west of 156th Avenue Southeast, in the Crossroads neighborhood. The contractor’s bid of $147,780 is 37 percent less than the engineer’s estimate.

Approximately $1.4 million is reserved each year for small neighborhood projects voted on through the NEP. The funds are allocated among 13 areas throughout the city based on the number of households, and are available for residents to “spend” every three years in a given area. Sidewalk improvements make up more than 40 percent of the requests.