City agrees to engineering contract for phase 2 of trail

WILLIAMSBURG — Phase 2 of the Williamsburg trail project will move ahead after the city council’s passage of a resolution May 27 to contract for engineering services.

The City of Williamsburg will pay Snyder and Associates $101,400 for Phase 2 of the trial project when services have been performed and meet all parties’ standards, the resolution says.

The city contracted with Snyder and Associates in February of 2023 for trail consulting for $40,000. In Nov. of 2023, Williamsburg agreed to pay an additional $5,700 for services.

A.J. Barry, project manager from Snyder and Associates, said during the May 27 city council meeting that the project will be let in March as long as the city meets Iowa Department of Transportation requirements.

“As long as you hit all those check marks, the DOT will let it go to that letting,” Barry said.

Phase 1 of the trail, less than a mile long, runs along the eastern boundary of the recreation complex south of town, stopping at East State Street near Circle J Grain elevators. Phase 1 was completed in September of 2023, and the city began planning Phase 2.

In October of 2024, the city received $510,382 in regional Transportation Alternative Set-Aside Program funds to expand the trail across Old Man’s Creek to Highland Ridge senior living facility on the north side of town.

Phase 2 will be 0.9 miles and will cost about $750,000, according to Laura Sauser, director of Iowa County Community Development and a member of the Williamsburg trails committee.

The city will provide a match of $57,000, and the town and trail committee are looking for additional grants and working with local businesses in the community for funding.

Work is expected to begin this summer.