Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

TO:	David L. Corliss
FROM:	Steven Lashley
CC:	Chuck Soules
Date:	June 11, 2008
RE:	Kentucky, 6^th to 12^th block closures - 2008 Overlay Program, Phase 1

Please include this update on the City Manager’s Report for the June 17, 2008 City Commission meeting.

Project Description/Status. The 2008 Overlay Program Phase 1 project is part of the city’s annual pavement maintenance program and was awarded to LRM Industries, Inc. on May 20^th, 2008. This contract includes milling and overlaying streets in the downtown area including Massachusetts from 6^th to North Park, 7^th Street from Vermont to New York, and Kentucky from 6^th to 12^th. The alternate bid item for the addition of Kentucky from 12^th to 19^th was deleted by addendum due to potential conflict with proposed future waterline rehabilitation work in the vicinity. Milling of Massachusetts began on June 4, 2008 and currently LRM is working on Massachusetts St between 6^th and North Park St performing patching, asphalt overlay, striping, and manhole/valve adjustments.

Project History. The city’s annual pavement maintenance program was reviewed and approved by City Commission on March 11, 2008.

On April 9, city staff members met with Downtown Lawrence, Inc (DLI) members to discuss issues and options associated with paving in the downtown area. The attached outline and map were provided to those attending as part of the presentation. The consensus of those present was that closing two to three block sections of Massachusetts for several days each was acceptable in order to expedite completion of the project. It was agreed that the work on Mass must be done before the annual sidewalk sale on July 17. (No work in the downtown area will be allowed on July 17 to accommodate the sidewalk sale.) The other primary concern was that no work on either 7^th or Kentucky that would close lanes or impede traffic be initiated until after work on Mass. is complete. City staff has also considered events scheduled for June 13 and 14 at 8^th and New Hampshire, and for June 19-23 at South Park in the project planning.

Project Details. The project includes milling existing pavement, patching deteriorated areas, placing a 2-inch overlay pavement, installing concrete around valves and manholes in the pavement, and pavement marking. Contract provisions include allowing closures of two to three blocks at a time on Mass. for no more than 5 days each for paving; keeping 9^th Street open across Mass. throughout the project; maintaining at least one lane of traffic on Kentucky at all times; and maintaining local access to businesses on 7^th St. Impacts of the work include restrictions on on-street parking along Kentucky for a few days during the paving work and possible detouring of some traffic. The contractor will also be allowed to divert truck traffic using Connecticut onto either 9^th or 11^th to reach New Hampshire while work is underway on 7^th St.

The original traffic plan for Kentucky was to always have one lane open to traffic during milling and paving operations. At the pre construction meeting with the contractor we discussed the ability for the LRM to use 2 pavers in tandem. This would improve the paving operation, be more consistent, not have a cold joint in the pavement, and complete the paving quicker. In order to achieve this 3 block sections of Kentucky would be closed for 1 day each to complete the paving.

Note that other contract provisions for maintaining at least one lane of traffic on Kentucky will still apply outside of the days that the overlay is performed. The three-block closures will provide LRM with the ability to perform a side by side paving operation and enhance the potential for a more uniform pavement.

Primary work efforts will be focused on the completion of Massachusetts no later than Friday, July 11, 2008 and will include incremental two to three block street closures. Furthermore, no work on any portion of the project will be allowed specifically on Thursday, July 17, 2008, during the sidewalk sale. Other event dates have also been noted in project documents.

Project Funding. The pavement maintenance program is funded from several sources including the general fund, gas tax funds, sales tax reserve and capital improvement reserve accounts.