JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Public Works committee got the latest on the plans and specifications for the James River Riverbank Restoration Project Thursday.

Ben Aaseth, lead engineer with Interstate Engineering, said they were finishing up the plans and specs for the project.

Aaseth says this project will help stabilize the banks in the six specified areas along the river.

There are environmental restrictions on the project, so Aaseth says some of the work would have to being this winter. They would look at a completion date of August 2021.

A benefit cost analysis was conducted through FEMA to show the importance of doing the project. Aaseth pointed out the cost of damages that could occur if they didn’t doing the project would far outweigh the cost of going through with it.

The committee unanimously approved the project with a city cost share of $237,000.

In other business, City Engineer Travis Dillman reports that all sandbags placed earlier this year have been removed.

Later discussion on the continued Road Diet trial was held. Dillman added that bagging the lights was just a part of the trial and shouldn’t be considered a full assessment of how the road diet would look on 1st Avenue.

Dillman says striping the project would help give a better picture of the road diet, but still wouldn’t be a full preview without the other amenities proposed with the project.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich added that the striping could occur sometime in October.

Dillman says the initial striping will be sprayed, but the final project will be carved out into the road.

He added that there has been disappointment in the traffic signals leaving, but rapid flashing beacons will be in place to alert both motorists and pedestrians where traffic will be required to stop for those crossing 1st Avenue.