Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director
FROM:	David P. Cronin, P.E., City Engineer
CC:	Charles Soules, P.E., Director of Public Works
Date:	March 25, 2014
RE:	Project PW1135 - 6th & Iowa Geometric Improvements Set bid date for April 22, 2014

Project Description

The primary scope of the 6th & Iowa project is to include a dedicated left turn lane for west bound traffic. The proposed left turn lane will reduce the average intersection delay, reduce accidents and improve traffic flow in a significant way.  The dedicated left turn lane can be established by widening the roadway to the north and reducing the width of the existing lanes from 12 feet to 11 feet. The sidewalk on the north side will be reconstructed as a 10 foot wide shared-use path and the existing guard rails on both north and south side of 6^th street will be replaced with a combination of concrete safety barrier and new guard rails. Additional improvements include an eastbound right turn lane, new sidewalk on the south side of 6th Street to Rockledge and new traffic signal equipment.  Pavement in the intersection will be milled and overlaid as the base is generally in good condition.

In the first phase of construction, the existing box bridges and ramps underneath 6th Street will need to be closed to extend the structures north and to perform concrete patching maintenance inside.  Northbound Iowa traffic accessing the turnpike will be detoured east on 6th Street, across the Kansas River bridge and north on 2nd Street to the East Lawrence turnpike interchange.  Variable message board signs will be placed on the turnpike notifying southbound McDonald Drive traffic including trucks that 6th & Iowa is closed and encourage using the west Lawrence/Lecompton interchange or East Lawrence interchange. A completion date of six weeks from the notice to proceed will be included in the contract for the first phase to expedite the work to reopen the boxes; time beyond six weeks will incur liquidated damages.  Construction of the entire project is anticipated to be complete by the end of summer.

The attached general layout sheet shows a plan view of the proposed improvements and traffic lane configuration.

Project Schedule

Set bid date April 1, 2014.

Bid date April 22, 2014

Award Project May 6, 2014

Tentative Construction Start Date May 19, 2014

Project Funding

The construction cost estimate is $1,500,000.  This project is included in the KDOT turnback agreement for 6th Street (US40) from Iowa to K-10.  Per the agreement, KDOT will allocate $1,500,000 for improvements at 6th & Iowa.  Any additional costs will be encumbered by the city.

Action Item

Set bid date of April 22, 2014 for Project PW1135 - 6th & Iowa Geometric Improvements.