16 - Utility Bond Project on Martin Luther King Drive and 17th Street N.E.-Discussion (2)

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Item No. 16 Memorandum TO: Mayor & Council Grayson Path, City Manager FROM: Carla Easton, PE, Director of Engineering & Community Development SUBJECT: UTILITY PROJECT UPDATE FOR MLK & 17TH ST NE DATE: September 28, 2020 BACKGROUND: The 2013 Utility Bond Program for Water and Sewer Improvements included funding for the replacement of sewer lines along 17th NE and MLK from Clement Road to 201h NE. This project is part of the $24 Million contract called Package #4, which was designed by AECOM and awarded to Oscar Renda Contracting (ORC) in December of 2015. In January 2020, ORC mobilized to 17th NE and began construction of the sewer replacement. Most of the work was completed during winter and spring months under wet weather. They experienced a significant amount of ground water and saturated soils while performing the work. They continued to lay pipe and backfill during the wet months in attempt to maintain the schedule, but the material was too wet to meet the minimum compaction requirements specified by the contract. Upon completion of the sewer installation, ORC requested density tests in preparation for the asphalt overlay. The city contracts with Braun Intertec for all material testing on this project, and the construction inspector is responsible for arranging the lab technician to be onsite upon notification by the contractor. The tests were scheduled, and in June 2020, twelve compaction and moisture content tests were performed by the lab in different locations along the project. Only one of the twelve tests passed the compaction test, with eleven failing to meet the contract specifications due to high moisture content. Staff met with contractor and the engineer regarding the failed tests, and made clear that no final street resurfacing would be allowed until the trenches were reworked and compacted to meet the contract specifications. By this time, the utility crew had mobilized to another project, and before returning to 17th NE and MLK they needed to close up the other work area. From time to time, the contractor would return to fill in the trenches after traffic would dig them out; this has been an ongoing issue that can only be fixed once the mill and overlay is completed. They returned to