• Construction progress has improved with less frequent rain in the last few weeks. A revised schedule has been agreed upon with the contractor recognizing 25 days of rain delay beyond normal conditions. Several completion dates for various stages of the project have been set. All work except for planting of native grasses is expected by November 1. It is too late in the year to plant the native grasses and those will be planted by May 1 of 2016. Temporary cover of winter wheat will be planted this fall.

• The Contractor is planning for storm sewer work to start in the next couple of weeks. This will involve some closures or partial closures of Park View Blvd and 73rd Avenue at various times to allow the new storm sewer work to be done.
  
  
• The Thompson Creek Levee improvement project, being led by the Papio-Missouri River NRD, continues to receive excess soil from the Thompson Creek project in order save both the City and the NRD money by coordinating the projects. So far about 20,000 cubic yards of soil has been hauled to the levee and there is up to 8,000 cubic yards remaining to be hauled.
  
  
• The rough grading of the channel between 72nd Street and 73rd Avenue is substantially complete, but there is some grading to do at a proposed soil wall location near 73rd Avenue on the south side. Some of the rear yards in this area have been seeded and are starting to see some growth. Remaining work in this section includes placement of stone armoring and grade control structures in the lower portions of the creek, fence work and seeding.
  
  
• Rough grading in the section west of 73rd Avenue has been making progress in the last several weeks. In order to work in this area it is necessary for the contractor to pump the flow from the creek to the streets so that sections of the creek bed can be dried enough for grading work. Major remaining work in this section involves several locations of storm sewer work and a large amount of soil wall installation.
  
  
• The project received an additional challenge when water main breaks flooded the work area with unexpected water during placement of cement grout in rip rap near Edgewood Boulevard.
  
  
• An Open House to review a planting plan for trees and shrubs along the reconstructed channel was held on July 16 from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm at the La Vista City Hall. Seven property owners attended the meeting. Excerpts from the planting plan that was presented on July 16 have been mailed to the property owners abutting Thompson Creek along with a survey form to gain their input on the planting plan. Efforts to identify funding for the tree planting plan are proceeding including some suggestions submitted by a resident at the July 16 Open House.
  
  
• The 2015 La Vista Bio Blitz will be held again this year on October 3 at Central Park from 10 am to 3 pm. There will be 25 exhibitors at the event. We conduct some tours of portions of the channel rehabilitation project. 

A couple recent construction photos:

Edgewood Boulevard looking east


73rd Ave. looking east


72nd St. looking west

Click here for more information on the Thompson Creek Watershed Restoration project.