By Mark Wineka

mwineka@salisburypost.com

West Innes and South Fulton streets will be getting a textured crosswalk courtesy of a company looking to install a demonstration project for its heat and stamp product.

Integrated Paving Concepts has installed a similar crosswalk for free at Long and East Innes streets.

"It's good for us and it's good for them," said Lynn Raker, urban design planner for Salisbury.

Salisbury City Council gave its OK for the free crosswalk Tuesday. It will extend across West Innes Street from First Presbyterian Church to the former K-Town Furniture.

The stamped thermoplastic crosswalk — 8 feet wide — will have the appearance of red brick pavers.

The city will probably install white safety bands on each side after it is installed and assist with traffic control on the day the crosswalk goes in.

Cars are able to drive over the product about an hour after it is laid down.

Raker said local N.C. Department of Transportation officials are expected to be invited to the installation.

In other city news, council has approved a license agreement with North Carolina Railroad Company and an easement with Historic Salisbury Foundation that clear the way for construction to begin on a $1.1 million trackside platform and connecting passenger canopy to Salisbury Station.

The N.C. Department of Transportation is paying for 90 percent of the project.

The license and easement were needed because the improvements will be located on properties owned by the railroad company and the foundation. The actual platform and canopy will be owned by the city, however.

"The contractor is waiting anxiously to begin," said Dan Mikkelson, land management and development director.

In another matter, council approved $25,000 as a design fee for Kimley-Horn Associates to come up with structural repair plans for the East Bank Street bridge.

Some "prompt action" items identified during a June inspection of the bridge by a state consultant will cost an estimated $120,000 to fix.

Kimley-Horn Associates also will be asked to prepare plans for additional repairs that could be in the bridge's future, which would take the costs up to approximately $350,000.

The repair project will be bid out under both options.

Technical specifications also will be drawn up for repair and painting associated with the East Fisher Street bridge. The estimated cost of that work is $110,000.

The bids will come back to City Council for final action.

Salisbury is responsible for the maintenance of six bridges in the city: the Ryan, Bank, Fisher, Ellis and Arlington streets bridges and the pedestrian bridge over Henderson Street at Rowan Regional Medical Center.

Those bridges are inspected every two years. The city already has addressed minor repairs and postings required at other bridges, except for the replacement of a timber cross brace on the Ellis Street bridge. That cross brace will be included in the work being bid out on the East Bank Street bridge.

In other city business, council:

- Approved the purchase of six Ford Interceptor police cars from Cloninger Ford for the price of $137,400.

- Recognized Facilities Maintenance Manager Deb Young for earning the designation of a certified energy manager. The city is working on reducing its energy costs 20 percent by 2010 and 30 percent by 2015.

Among other things, Young is looking at the relamping of all buildings and going to more efficient heating and air-conditioning units as old units are replaced on city buildings. She also will be conducting energy inventories of all buildings.

Salisbury has accepted the N.C. League of Municipalities' "Green Challenge." Its efforts to date were recently highlighted at a meeting of the N.C. Green Builders Association.

Young, who completed a program through N.C. State, is one of 6,000 certified energy managers in the country.

- Approved a zoning change that adds a Conditional District overlay to Rowan County-owned property at 1811 E. Innes Street, the 7-acre site that includes the Rowan County Health Department and the future home of the Department of Social Services.

The county will add 27,000 square feet and renovate some of the existing building to accommodate DSS.

The Conditional District was needed so changes could be allowed in the building's orientation, design, dimensions and parking.

- Approved the closing Sunday of a portion of Oak Road, from 19 Oak Road to the dead end. The road will be closed from 5-8 p.m. for a neighborhood party.

- Approved the closing of the 200 block of West Fisher Street from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 11 for the annual Rowan Blues and Jazz Festival.

- Approved the closing of the 300 block of West Bank Street from 6 a.m. Oct. 11 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 12 for the 2008 OctoberTour.

- Appointed Pete Teague to the Salisbury-Rowan Economic Development Commission.

- Heard that a reopening and ribbon-cutting for the renovated Sports Complex on South Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 27.

- Heard that La Fiesta de Rowan will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Salisbury Civic Center.

- Heard that the Mayor's Spirit Luncheon will be held at noon Oct. 7 in Council Chambers at City Hall.

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