Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Public Works
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TO: |
David L. Corliss |
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FROM: |
Chuck Soules |
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CC: |
Diane Stoddard, Cynthia Wagner, Jonathan Douglass, Casey Toomay, Laura Warner, Ed Mullins |
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Date: |
November 1, 2011 |
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RE: |
Iowa Street (US-59 Highway), 15th Street (Bob Billings Parkway) to Yale Road – Street Reconstruction & Geometric Improvements City Project No. PW1012 |
Introduction: The original pavement section of Iowa Street from Yale Road to Irving Hill overpass was built in 1952 and has been milled and overlaid several times. During the winter of 2009/2010 this section of Iowa experienced significant deterioration and subgrade failure. As a result, on April 27, 2010 the City Commission authorized staff to proceed to reconstruct Iowa from Yale Road to Irving Hill overpass.
Project Description: The project includes the reconstruction of Iowa from Harvard Road to Irving Hill overpass including pavement, storm sewer, curb and gutter, sidewalks, and a center turn lane. The intersection will include dual left turn lanes on Iowa and right turn lanes in all directions. Lane widths of 11 ft. will be used to maintain the improvements predominately in the existing right-of-way. The grade separation west of Iowa, between the east/westbound lanes of Bob Billings Parkway, will be removed. A multi-use path will be placed on the south side of Bob Billings Parkway.
Project Funding:
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Estimated cost of the project includes: |
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Construction estimate |
$5.5 Million |
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Engineering |
$400,000 |
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Approximate Total |
$6.0 Million |
Funding Available:
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Infrastructure Sales Tax |
$1.0 Million |
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Highway Safety Funds |
$1.2 Million |
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Surface Transportation Funds |
$3 Million |
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General Obligation Bonds, Resolution No. 6889 |
$1.25 Million |
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$6.45 Million |
Project History:
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3/9/10 |
City Commission approved revisions to the 2010 Maintenance Program to include immediate repairs to Iowa |
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3/29/10 |
Public meeting to discuss improvements and center turn lane |
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4/27/10 |
City Commission authorized Iowa Street reconstruction |
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7/13/10 |
Authorized staff to negotiate an Engineering Contract with Bartlett and West |
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12/7/10 |
City Commission authorized preliminary design report (shared use path, BBP/Iowa intersection improvements) |
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2/8/11 |
Authorized Mayor to execute agreement for Engineering Services. |
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9/1/11 |
Met with Westar |
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9/16/11 |
Met with Immanuel Lutheran Church |
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9/30/11 |
Met with KU |
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10/21/11 |
Met with contractors |
Project Schedule/Issues:
Westar: The addition of a center turn lane along Iowa will use all available right-of-way. Westar will need to move their facilities to the west which will cause Westar to have to acquire easements from about 15 property owners. When Westar completes this relocation there will be trees that will be removed. Westar’s work is substantial and will take 6 to 9 months.
KU: Staff met with several departments at KU to discuss project schedule and phasing. KU representatives included KU Police, KU Athletics, KU Housing, Public Affairs, KU Provost, KU Design and Construction Management, New Student Orientation, Parking and Transit, and KU Facilities Operations.
Schedule: KDOT currently has this project programmed to bid in the 3rd week of June 2012. Pending review of bids, award of contract, submittal of contract documents, and pre-construction conference, the Notice to Proceed could be issued on or about the first day of classes for the KU fall semester. Construction will more than likely stop after only 3-4 months due to winter weather and not resume until the spring of 2013 leaving several lanes of traffic closed.
After discussions with KU and local contractors staff would like to propose moving the bidding of this project to November/December 2012. Contracts and Notice to Proceed could be issued by February 2013 and waterline and storm sewer work could commence. Temporary and partial closures of Iowa and 15th Street/Bob Billings Parkway would also be necessary between February and May. After graduation staff would recommend complete closure of 15th/BBP east and west of Iowa. Between graduation and mid August the contractor would complete all the work on 15th/BBP and the intersection at Iowa. This schedule would have the intersection fully open for the next school year. Iowa Street would be built with one lane open in each direction throughout the project.
This project is difficult to construct while keeping traffic moving and not affect KU events. Staff and KU agree, however, that complete closure of 15th/BBP (east and west of Iowa) to complete the Iowa intersection over the summer would be the least disruptive.
While 15th / BBP is closed traffic can be detoured around Crestline on the west side of Iowa and KU has alternative access east of Iowa to their facilities. Other factors that favor the recommendation of closure of 15th Street / BBP include:
- with the Kasold project between 15th and 23rd Streets, the contractor for that project had proposed at the beginning of that project, that if Kasold were closed (versus carrying traffic through the project) the project could have been completed six months earlier and for approximately $1 million less.
- Trying to maintain traffic through 15th as well as Iowa will add @ least 4 phases to the project which will take an additional 4 months or more
- Additional phasing and longer construction time adds additional costs in traffic control and does not efficiently use contractor resources.
- A sewer main in 15th Street (east of Iowa) does need to be lowered and will necessitate a closure of 15th for a period of time anyway to complete this work
- Trying to keep a lane open on both 15th /BBP and Iowa will mean maintaining the signal in the intersection. Traffic on both these streets will back up significantly during stopping cycles to allow traffic to move through the intersection.
- All movements right/ left and through will not always be able to be maintained especially left turn movements will have to be prohibited or traffic will not move
KU commencement is projected to be Sunday, May 19, 2013. The first day of classes is undetermined but will probably be the week of August 19. Therefore, staff would recommend closing 15th/BBP and work could commence May 20, 2013 and be completed by August 12, 2013. Failure to have the intersection fully open and complete would result in significant liquidated damages, i.e. $5,000/day. The Commission could also offer an incentive to get the intersection/street opened earlier, i.e. $5,000/day with a maximum of $50,000.
Action Requested:
Pending discussion, approve:
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· Move bid date to November / December 2012 |
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· Phasing plan and closure of 15th/Bob Billings Parkway |
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· Liquidated damages of $5,000/day for late completion |
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· Incentive of $5,000/day for early completion of the intersection, up to a maximum of $50,000 |
Attachment: Phasing Map
Bob Billings Parkway/Iowa Plan and Profile