Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

 

TO:

David L. Corliss

FROM:

Chuck Soules

CC:

Cynthia Boecker, Diane Stoddard, Shoeb Uddin, Dena Mezger

Date:

December 11, 2007

RE:

December 18, 2007 Agenda Item

N. 2nd Street & Locust Street, Geometric Improvements

City Project No. 27-GI3-505(S); State Project No. 40-23 U-2041-01

 

Please include the following item on the City Commission Regular Agenda for consideration at the December 18, 2007 meeting.

 

Project Background:

This project is scheduled to bid February 20, 2008.  The estimated cost of $2 million will be shared with KDOT, and KDOT has capped their participation at $1 million.  The project includes the reconstruction of N. 2nd Street from the Kansas River Bridge to the railroad bridge, construction of a left-turn lane at Locust, and new waterline and storm sewer improvements.  The project has a schedule of nine months to complete (approximate construction – April through December).

 

KTA Projects:

The KTA plans to begin work this summer on the Kansas River Bridges.  As discussed at the December 4 City Commission Meeting, Phase 1 includes improvements to the West Lawrence (Plaza 202) interchange.  This phase will begin in June/July and last eight months through February 2009.  Phase II will close the East Lawrence Plaza beginning mid-2009 and also last eight months.

 

Options:

The Commission requested staff to review construction schedules and emergency response/ access issues for North Lawrence and provide a recommendation for when the 2nd and Locust Project should proceed.

 

Staff has looked at completing the 2nd and Locust project during Phase I, Phase II, and in 2011/2012 after all KTA improvements are completed.  Engineering staff has discussed these options with KTA, KDOT, Lawrence Police Department, and Fire/Medical.  Construction during Phase II is not recommended due to limiting options for access to North Lawrence to only N. 2nd Street.  Two lanes in both directions need to be open when the East Lawrence Plaza is closed.

 

The recommended/preferred time to complete the N. 2nd and Locust project is in 2008 when the westbound access at Plaza 202 to the KTA is closed.  In emergency situations both the Police and Fire Departments agree that having the KTA as an option to access North Lawrence would provide the best response.  In fact, depending on what response is needed (police, fire, ambulance), and from where the response is leaving, and the time of day, it might be quicker to use the KTA versus N. 2nd Street even today.

 

Options have been discussed with Ted Boyle, President of the North Lawrence Improvement Association, and he agrees that doing the work before the East Lawrence interchange is closed would be better for North Lawrence. It was discussed that an emergency vehicle could be staged in N. Lawrence but this is neither efficient nor economical.  The Fire Department is not staffed for this type of commitment.  This project is not any different from any other construction project in which Public Works, Police, Fire/Medical work very closely on changes in traffic management and response issues. 

 

Postponing the project until 2011/2012 may increase prices up to 20-30% ($400,000-$600,000).  This would be a City cost as KDOT participation has been limited.

 

Staff has further discussed with KDOT the importance of completing this project in a shorter amount of time, and with City Commission direction would recommend the following:

 

v      A calendar completion date of November 15, 2008.

v      Liquidated damages of $2,500-$5,000/day.  (Staff was recommending $5,000 but KDOT has proposed $2,500).

v      Incentive of $1,000/day for each day the project is finished in advance of the completion date, with a maximum of $100,000 if completed by September 1.  This would provide an additional incentive to complete/open to traffic over the $1,000/day incentive.  This would be a City expense.

 

Recommendation:

Recommend the City proceed with the 2nd and Locust project for a February 2008 bid letting.  Also, recommend working with KDOT to shorten the construction schedule, including use of incentives up to $100,000.

 

Action Request:  Provide staff direction.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

 

CFS/je

 

Attachments:  Map w/Construction Phasing

                   Construction Timeline

                   KTA Brochure

                   Memo dated 11/28/07