The Spirit of ’76 runs strong in Utica, Nebraska, which can be seen in an abundance of American flags always on display. The last time the community repaved its downtown, America was celebrating the bicentennial.

More than four decades of wear and tear took their toll on the infrastructure. Cracks marred the sidewalk. The 10-inch curbs stood at right angles, creating barriers for anyone using a wheelchair or walker. And poor drainage pooled rainwater in the gutter, making it difficult for visitors to park and access the sidewalk.

When community leaders in Utica decided it was time to rehabilitate their downtown, they reached out to Olsson. We welcomed the opportunity to again partner with a community where we had previously helped overhaul the water system.

For the downtown project, Utica officials secured a $225,000 Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which required 35-percent matching funds. The sidewalks and curbs now comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the street drains perfectly.

But that’s not how the story ended.

One of our technical lighting designers showed how replacing the downtown’s cobra head mast arm lighting could do wonders for aesthetics. Utica adopted our plan to install poles with decorative post tops, instantly adding character to the block.

Community leaders next proposed adding a Veterans Memorial as a centerpiece of the improved street. The American Legion Post 47 covered the cost of the memorial marker, and the Utica Betterment Committee sold personalized paver bricks to raise funds for the improvements.

Our services included survey and design, bidding phase assistance, construction staking, construction management, oversight, and materials testing. Other project partners were SCS Construction and Blue River Electric. Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) assisted with grant writing and administration.

“Olsson sure was helpful in making sure things got processed properly,” said Don Olson, chairman of the village board. “I thought the Olsson people did a great job of keeping on top of things.”

Utica saw an opportunity to build not just a street, but a streetscape. Helping communities make the most of their opportunities is one of the things Olsson does best.