A Pella Company is starting to patch and overlay downtown alleys in Newton. Last month, the Newton City Council awarded the contract to TK Concrete, with a low bid of $360,045. The repaving follows Alliant Energy’s removal of overhead steel transmission line structures that were in the downtown alleys. Those lines have now been buried underground, to provide more reliable electrical service downtown. The 15-foot-wide travel portion of the alleys will be patched and given a 2” mill and overlay. According to City of Newton Engineering Technician Brandon Schakel, the milling process for alleys north of First Avenue has just started. Weather permitting, that work is expected to be completed by the end of this week. Milling the alleys on the south side of First Avenue is scheduled for early next week, along with patching and overlay of alleys north of First Avenue. The alleys south of First Avenue are expected to be patched and overlaid next Wednesday, October 22nd through Friday, October 24th. Schakel notes downtown alleys will be closed throughout the patching and overlay process. City bond revenue is paying for this project.