Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David L. Corliss – City Manager Diane Stoddard - Assistant City Manager Casey Toomay – Assistant City Manager Brandon McGuire – Assistant to the City Manager
FROM:	Troy Shaw – Project Engineer
CC:	Dave Wagner – Director of Utilities Mike Lawless – Deputy Director of Utilities Philip Ciesielski – Asst. Director of Utilities Beth Krishtalka – Assistant to Director Bob Brower – Utilities Operations Superintendent Scott Fewins – Utilities Manager
DATE:	March 24, 2015
RE:	Approve Traffic Control Plan for the Road Closure of 9^th Street for the Avalon Road and Hilltop Drive Waterline Construction projects. Award Bid No. 1502 and authorize the City Manager to execute the construction contract for project UT1409, Avalon Road Waterline Replacement, 9^th Street to Cambridge Road.

Background

The Avalon Road waterline replacement project from 9^th Street to Cambridge Road was evaluated as part of a preliminary design report, which established viable alternatives for alignment, project prioritization, construction cost estimates, and sequencing that will align with planned street rehabilitation work and budgeted funding. The assessment study identified the Avalon Road waterline as the second priority for replacement due to the size, age, and condition of the 4”, 1955 cast iron main. Through coordination with the Public Works Department the timeline to complete the project was moved up due to a summer 2015 street resurfacing project on Avalon Road and in the surrounding neighborhood.

Utilities in-house construction crews had previously identified the need to replace the existing 6”-8”, 1953 cast iron watermain on Hilltop Drive from 9^th Street to Oxford Road. Due to the upcoming street resurfacing project, Utilities crews adjusted their waterline construction priority in order to complete this replacement before to the street resurfacing.

Due to the desire to complete both the Avalon Road and Hilltop Drive waterline replacements in advance of the summer 2015 street resurfacing, and minimize the traffic impacts on 9^th Street, the Utilities Department is proposing to complete both projects at the same time.

Project Description

The Avalon Waterline Replacement Project, as shown on the attached map, includes the replacement of approximately 1600 linear feet of 4” waterline with 8” plastic waterline by primarily horizontal directional drilling. The project also includes valves, fittings, fire hydrants and other miscellaneous appurtenances for the waterline located along Avalon Road between 9^th Street and Cambridge Road. The project will be completed within 150 calendar days from the date of the Notice to Proceed, per the contract documents.

The Hilltop Drive Waterline Replacement Project, as shown on the attached map, includes the replacement of approximately 1,850 linear feet of 6” to 8”, 1953 cast iron waterline with 8” plastic waterline by open cut installation. The project also includes valves, fittings, fire hydrants and other miscellaneous appurtenances for the waterline located on Hilltop Drive between 9^th Street and Oxford Road. The project will be completed by City Utilities in-house watermain construction crews and will take approximately 120 calendar days.

Traffic Impacts

During the construction of the waterlines on Avalon and Hilltop, roads will be closed to through traffic. Access to local traffic will be maintained at all times. See the attached Avalon and Hilltop general traffic restriction plan.

During the period of May 26^th to June 7^th, and for a time not to exceed nine consecutive days, 9^th street will be closed from just West of Hilltop Drive to just East of Avalon Road in order to complete the connection of the new waterlines on both Hilltop and Avalon to the existing 16” concrete main located in the middle of 9^th Street. A detailed detour plan is attached.

The following additional steps will also be made to notify the public of the road closure:

- A variable message board, stating the start date of the closure, will be placed on 9^th Street in both the East and West bound directions at least 5 days prior to the closure of 9^th Street.

- A news release will be sent out at least 5 days prior to the closure of 9^th Street.

- A note regarding the road closure on 9^th street will be included on the weekly “City infrastructure improvement project list” that is published on the City’s website.

- Prior to the start of construction for either project a neighborhood meeting will be held where project details, including traffic impacts, will be discussed with the surrounding neighborhood.

Bid Results for the Avalon Road Waterline

Professional Engineering Consultants completed construction documents for the project and it was advertised for bid on January 28, 2015. Bids were opened on February 17, 2015 and the bids listed below read publicly aloud.

Schuetz Construction	$432,619.00
Westland Construction, Inc.	$371,760.00
Nowak Construction Co., Inc.	$374,069.50
Engineer’s Estimate	$405,450.00

Professional Engineering Consultants have reviewed the bids, qualifications, and current project commitments of the low bidder, Westland Construction, Inc., and, per the attached letter and bid tabulation, recommend awarding the bid to Westland Construction, Inc.

Note that the as read engineer’s estimate and the engineer’s estimate provided in the bid tab are slightly different. The as read estimate contained a typo in the quantity of Pavement Removal and Replacement and has been rectified in the bid tab to reflect the as bid quantity.

Project Funding for Avalon Road

The project will be funded from the Department of Utilities bonded construction fund per the adopted Capital Improvement Project Scenario 5 for the 2013-2017 period.

Action

Approve Traffic Control Plan for the Road Closure of 9^th Street for Hilltop and Avalon Waterline Construction projects.

Award the construction contract for Bid No. B1502 to Westland Construction, Inc. in the amount of $371,760.00 and authorize the City Manager to execute the construction contract for project, UT1409 Avalon Road Waterline Replacement, 9^th Street to Cambridge Road.