Title
Resolution to Authorize City Administrator to Enter Construction Contract to Remove Damaged Beams on E. Stadium Bridge over S. State (Not to Exceed $100,000.00)
Memorandum
Attached please find a resolution that will authorize the City Administrator to plan for and enter into a construction contract to remove portions of the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over S. State Street.
On September 15, 2009 our bridge inspection consultant, Northwest Consultants, Inc. (NCI), inspected the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over S. State Street. This inspection was performed due to the bridge's condition and to verify that the integrity of the bridge hadn't changed markedly since the last inspection. Attached please find a copy of the letter report prepared by NCI. In their letter, NCI recommends removing, at a minimum, the one damaged and failed beam that is currently deflecting, and/or the five southernmost beams of the bridge due to their condition. Due to the critical condition of the beams, they should be removed prior to the winter as their condition is such that they may become unstable during freezing weather and pieces of concrete could fall onto passing vehicles or pedestrians travelling along S. State Street. We agree with the recommendations of NCI.
We recommend the following course of action in order to manage the condition of the bridge and to help ensure the safety of the users of E. Stadium Boulevard and S. State Street:
1. create construction plans, specifications, and a construction contract that will detail the removal (we do not plan to replace them) of the five southernmost beams on the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over S. State Street
2. provide the plans and specifications to three contractors known to Project Management Services Unit (PMSU) staff that are reputable, have the necessary and available resources to competently complete the work, and have the ability to complete the work in a timely manner
3. receive bids from the selected contractors and select the lowest responsible bidder
4. request City Administrator approval of the Contract
5. schedule and complete the needed demolition and other associated work to secure the area until such time as the bridge can be completely demolished and replaced
6. prepare a memorandum and resolution that describes the work performed, final cost of the all work, and "retroactively" requests your approval of the contract; and, provide a status report on the project.
We believe that the above referenced demolition work will cost under $100,000.00. Funding for the work will come from the approved FY 09 Street Reconstruction Millage Capital Budget and will be included in the total cost of the project.
PMSU staff will schedule the demolition work to occur during the month of November. Due to the number of weekend events in this area, the work will most probably occur from a Sunday morning until Tuesday afternoon. During the performance of the demolition operations, it will be necessary to close S. State Street. We will detour S. State Street traffic along Stimpson, to S. Industrial Hwy., to E. Stadium Boulevard, to Packard Road, to S. State Street. This detour will be used for both northbound and southbound S. State Street traffic. Please see the attached detour drawing. While the demolition operations are being performed, two lanes of traffic will be maintained along E. Stadium Boulevard. However, it will be necessary to reduce E. Stadium Boulevard traffic to one lane temporarily while we place concrete barrier along the centerline of the bridge to prevent vehicles and pedestrians from travelling into the work zone. The traffic along E. Stadium Boulevard will be maintained with the use of flagpersons while the concrete barrier is placed. Some of the demolition will occur during nighttime hours in order to achieve the schedule that has been outlined above.
Note, after the demolition is completed, a portion of the bridge deck will no longer exist. Consequently, the concrete barrier mentioned above will be placed such that it will prevent vehicles and pedestrians from entering the "gap" in the bridge deck. Pedestrians and vehicles using E. Stadium Boulevard and S. State Street will continue to walk and drive in their current locations after the beam removal work is completed.
PMSU staff will oversee all work and manage the selected contractor. We will also work with the Communications Unit to prepare press releases and post information on our website that describes the planned work, the rationale behind it, and when and how it is expected to be completed.
The contractor that works on this project will pay its employees a living wage and will comply with the City's Human Rights requirements.
Project Update
We have received letters of support for this project from U. S. Congressman John D. Dingell, U. S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, the University of Michigan, SEMCOG, and several others. Also, U. S. Congressman Mark Schauer and U. S. Senator Carl Levin are supportive of the project as well. A broad base of support for this project has been built and we are hopeful that it will pay dividends for us as we seek State and Federal funding.
We submitted our TIGER Discretionary Funding Application to the U. S. Department of Transportation on September 13, 2009. A copy of the completed funding application is available on our website. The amount of funding requested was $21M. The Department of Transportation has committed to providing its determination of funded projects in February 2010. We may, however, receive a response from them sooner.
TIGER funds are eligible to cover any project expense. As we shared with you on August 17, 2009, our "best case" funding scenario provides $2M in City funds for the project with the remaining $21M being TIGER funds. If we receive this funding, we must have the funds obligated and expended and construction of the project substantially complete on, or before, February 17, 2012; thus the need for moving ahead with the demolition work and DTE agreement at this time.
Work on the construction drawings for the project has begun. We will be holding community involvement and information sharing meetings regarding the project in October and November. The project is progressing on schedule.
Staff
Prepared by: Homayoon Pirooz, P.E., Manager, Project Management
Reviewed by: Sue F. McCormick, Public Services Administrator
Approved by: Roger W. Fraser, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Due to the condition of the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over S. State Street it is necessary to remove portions of the bridge structure to help ensure the safety of the travelling public;
Whereas, Public Services Area staff is requesting that this work be performed on an expedited schedule in order to ensure that the work is completed prior to the on-set of freezing weather;
Whereas, Public Services Area staff is proposing an expedited method of contract bidding and award to complete the work in a timely manner; and
Whereas, The Project Management Services Unit staff will manage and inspect the work and report to Council upon completion of said work all costs therefore and will retroactively request approval of the construction contract and update Council on the status of the bridge replacement project;
RESOLVED, That Council authorize the City Administrator to enter into a construction contract not to exceed $100,000.00 to remove damaged beams on the E. Stadium Boulevard Bridge over S. State Street in order to help ensure the safety of the travelling public;
RESOLVED, That the final contract and its costs therefore will be brought before City Council at a later date for their retroactive approval;
RESOLVED, That the funding for the work will come from the approved FY09 Street Reconstruction Millage Capital Budget;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute said contract after approval as to form by the City Attorney and approval as to substance by the Public Services Area Administrator and the City Administrator; and
RESOLVED, The City Administrator be authorized and directed to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution, including issuing temporary Traffic Control Orders and night work authorizations as required for the completion of the construction.