Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Department of Public Works
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TO: |
David L. Corliss |
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FROM: |
Chuck Soules |
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CC: |
Diane Stoddard, Shoeb Uddin, Mark Thiel |
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Date: |
April 28, 2009 |
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RE: |
May 5, 2009 Agenda Item N. 2nd Street & Locust Street Project Update Geometric Intersection Improvements City Project No. 27-GI5-505(S) State Project No. 23 U-2041-01 |
Please include the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the May 5, 2009 meeting:
Project History.
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2005 |
Project programmed into KDOT 5-Year Plan. |
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November 2005 |
Hired TranSystems to prepare design |
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April 19, 2006 |
Met with Depot, Parks & Recreation, Rick Renfro (Johnny’s Tavern), Historic Resource Administrator, Ted Boyle (North Lawrence Improvement Association), and Cory Brinkerhoff. |
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April 29, 2006 |
Met with ICL Performance Products to discuss traffic control. |
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May 8, 2006 |
Met with North Lawrence Improvement Association. |
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June 13, 2006 |
Options for design reviewed at City Commission meeting. Directed to proceed with option 2 (widening to the east), and option 3 (which prohibits the left turn from southbound N. 2nd Street to eastbound Elm Street). |
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February 2008 |
Project advertised for bid. No bids received. |
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Spring/Summer 2008 |
Staff met with contractors and KDOT to discuss project issues. |
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March 2009 |
City receives announcement that $2 million in ARRA funding has been approved by KDOT. |
Project Description: Reconstruction of intersection will include a left-turn lane, improved geometrics, and signalization.
The project includes widening and reconstruction of the intersection. The widening will permit a left-turn lane to be added for N. 2nd Street traffic at the intersection of Locust Street. The intersection will be reconstructed with 10” concrete.
The intersection at Elm Street will be reconstructed to prohibit left turns from southbound N. 2nd Street traffic. The sight distance for this movement is not sufficient. A motorist cannot see oncoming traffic due to the vertical alignment of the street and bridges (Option 2 and Option 3).
Project Status. The contractors had three issues with the plans in 2008:
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· Length of time provided to complete project. We had tried to squeeze this project between phases of the KTA project affecting the east KTA interchange. Plans for the project today include bidding the project in June, begin construction in July, and completion the summer of 2010. |
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· This project replaces the one water main serving North Lawrence. A storm sewer line that drains the underpass lies approximately 20+ ft. directly under this waterline. The contractors felt that replacing the storm sewer and supporting the live 16” water main above was difficult. The water main is now being moved east away from the excavation. |
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· The construction/work area is very constricted making traffic control a safety issue. The soils and water table may also be an issue. The project that was bid in 2008 maintained two lanes of traffic (one in each direction). We are now proposing to only allow southbound traffic and detour northbound traffic to Elm/3rd Street/Lyon. |
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· We have been working with ICL Performance Products and contacting their trucks early so the detour will not cause a problem. |
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· An agreement has been worked out with Johnny’s Tavern and the Village Witch to provide additional signage to their businesses. The city will also lease a portion of the parking lot for construction material storage. |
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· We will be sending notices to the residences on Perry Street. |
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· The project has been discussed with NLIA (North Lawrence Improvement Association). Mr. Boyle is supportive of the project, and the NLIA wants the project done. Mr. Boyle requested that an emergency vehicle be placed in North Lawrence during rush hour for the duration of the project. I have spoken with Mark Bradford, Fire Chief, and Bill Stark, Fire Division Chief. Placing a vehicle in North Lawrence during the morning and evening rush hours throughout the duration of the project is not practical or feasible. The fire department has developed the attached emergency operations plan. This plan addresses access and options during construction. The plan includes a dual response: dispatching a crew north on 2nd Street and to the KTA for access to North Lawrence. Additionally, the Traffic Division will install an opticom signal pre-emption system at Lyon Street. The system can be activated by the Fire Department stopping southbound traffic at Lyon Street and allowing emergency response crews to go north through the underpass. |
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· The City will provide construction engineering/inspection services. |
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· A few plan sheets are being revised by BG Consultants. |
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· The project is proposed to be included in the June letting by KDOT. |
Project Funding. The City has received $2 million from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act and approximately $1 million from the KDOT 5-Year Plan/STP Program. The City matches KDOT funds with 20% local funds ($200,000). Therefore, the sum of $3.2 million is available for this project. Any additional costs over the sum of these programs will be at the City’s expense. The funds available can include waterline and storm sewer line replacement (previously included at City cost).
Action Request. KDOT will bid this project. Authorize Mayor to sign Certification of Property Acquisition and Utility Arrangements.
Respectfully submitted,
Charles F. Soules, P.E.
Director of Public Works
CFS/je
Attachments: Option 2