Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

TO:	Dave Corliss, City Manager Debbie Van Saun, Asst. City Manager
FROM:	Dena Mezger, Asst. Public Works Director
CC:	Charles Soules, Public Works Director
Date:	July12, 2007
RE:	July 17, 2007 Agenda Item

Please include the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for consideration at the July 17, 2007 meeting:

Award contract in the amount of $57,497.57 to R. D. Johnson Excavating, Inc. for pavement replacement on 4^th Street, Michigan to Maine. This contract is for improvements to 4^th Street between Michigan and Maine in conjunction with improvements to the intersections being completed by Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Project History. At the time intersection improvements at Michigan and Maine were being designed in association with the expansion of LMH, city staff requested inclusion of pavement improvements to 4^th Street between the two intersections. Fourth Street was already included in the proposed overlay program. Staff determined that it would be more efficient to contract with LMH’s successful bidder to complete the work with the intersection improvements. RD Johnson Excavating Co. is the contractor for the LMH road improvements.

Proposed Project Details. The work will include the removal and replacement of the existing asphalt pavement along with construction of sidewalk along the south side of 4^th St between Michigan and Maine, outside the limits of the improvements being made by LMH. The original intent was to mill and overlay the existing pavement on 4^th Street. However, once work on the intersections exposed the existing pavement it became apparent that mill and overlay would be insufficient to correct the problems on 4^th St. The existing pavement depth is not consistent and the very old materials below the surface layer do not meet the city’s standards. Both the depth and the materials contribute to the presence of existing pavement failures. Staff recommends the pavement be completely removed and replaced.

Proposed Project Status.  Work on LMH’s intersections project is underway. That will need to be completed prior to work on 4^th Street in order to maintain adequate access to the hospital and the surrounding neighborhood. Complete closure of the street to traffic will be necessary and temporary re-routing of the bus will be required at that time. The contractor expects the intersections improvements to take approximately 6 weeks.

Project Funding. Funds for the pavement improvements were allocated from the overlay program budget. A total of $45,000 was set aside for 4^th St. Pavement costs included in this contract total $42,441.36. The remainder of the cost, $15,056.21, is for the sidewalks on the south side of 4^th St and will be funded from the $250,000 budget for construction of sidewalk connections.

Action Request.  Public Works staff requests award of a contract to RD Johnson Excavating Company for the pavement removal and replacement on 4^th Street.

Respectfully Submitted,

Dena E. Mezger, P.E.

Asst. Public Works Director