Adopt Resolution #24-156 Accepting Bids and Awarding Contract for 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements, Improvement Project #24-07 

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to adopt Resolution #24-156 accepting bids and awarding a contract for construction for 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements, Improvement Project #24-07.
 
Background:
The proposed 2024 – 2033 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) identifies seven (7) subdivisions for pavement overlay improvements in 2024. Street segment summaries are attached to this case.
 
Project History

• August 8, 2023, Resolution #23-182, the Ramsey City Council executed a proposal from Braun Intertec to prepare a pavement core analysis of Bowers Drive.
• November 14, 2023, Resolution #23-281, the Ramsey City Council executed a proposal from Bolton and Menk to perform a topographic survey of the pedestrian ramps within the project area.
• November 21, 2023, the Ramsey Public Works Committee considered recommending City Council order plans and specifications, additionally discussed constructing the gravel section of Basalt Street as part of these improvements.
• November 28, 2023, Resolution #23-299, the Ramsey City Council ordered plans and specifications for 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlays, Improvement Project #24-07.
• February 2, 2024, the Ramsey Public Works Committee considered adding a trail connection between Bowers Drive and the Riverstone South subdivision.
• March 26, 2024, the Ramsey City Council reviewed the trail connection resident survey at the Work Session, recommending to not move forward with the connection.
• April 16, 2024, the Ramsey Public Works Committee recommended City Council approval of plans and specifications and authorizing advertisement for bids.
• April 23, 2024, the Ramsey City Council approved plans and specifications and authorized advertisements for bids.
• June 4, 2024, bids were publicly opened and tabulated.

 
The projects total approximately 4.32 miles in length, with varying mill thicknesses proposed. The project areas include:
 

• Alpine Acres 1^st & 2^nd
  • Generally located east of Sunfish Lake Blvd and north of Alpine Drive
    • Residential townhouse subdivision
    • Construction in 2004
      • 0.85 miles of 32’ wide urban section with concrete curb & gutter
    • Crack seal / seal coat improvements in 2009 and 2016
    • Crack seal improvement in 2023
  • Subdivision was prioritized due to pavement stripping

 

• Bowers Mississippi Acres 1^st, 2^nd, & 3^rd
  • Generally located south of Riverdale Drive and 148^th Avenue
    • Residential single-family house subdivision
    • Construction in 1982
      • 0.99 miles of mix 24’ wide urban section with bituminous curbing and rural section with drainage swales adjacent to roadway
    • Crack seal / seal coat improvement in 1996
    • Overlay improvement in 2004
    • Crack seal / seal coat improvements in 2009 and 2016
  • Subdivision was prioritized due to concerns pavement conditions falling beyond scope of pavement overlay improvement

 

• Gateway Industrial Park 2^nd and Ebony Addition
  • Generally located southwest of Bunker Lake Blvd and Sunfish Lake Blvd
    • Commercial / Industrial subdivision
    • Constructed between 1991 and 2007
      • 0.49 miles of 38’ wide urban section with concrete curb and gutter
    • Crack seal / seal coat improvements in 2003, 2012 and 2017

 

• Section 27 Unplatted
  • Generally located southwest of Bunker Lake Blvd and Sunfish Lake Blvd
    • Commercial / Industrial subdivision
    • Constructed in 2001
      • 0.47 miles of 40’ wide urban section with concrete curb and gutter
    • Crack seal / seal coat improvements in 2006 and 2018

 

• Orchard Hills Townhomes
  • Generally located south of Alpine Drive and east of TH 47
    • Residential townhouse subdivision
    • Construction in 2001
      • 0.30 miles of 32’ wide urban section with concrete curb & gutter
    • Crack seal / seal coat improvements in 2006 and 2013
    • Crack seal improvement in 2021

 

• Seasons of Ramsey
  • Generally located north of Bunker Lake Blvd, east of Center Street
    • Residential single-family and townhouse subdivision
    • Construction in 2013
      • 0.08 miles of 31’ wide urban section with concrete curb & gutter
    • Subdivision was prioritized due to pavement condition and project location
      • Street patching due to Garden View development service connections
      • Development contributed funds towards overlay improvements

 

• Town Center Gardens 1^st, 2^nd, & 3^rd
  • Generally located north of Bunker Lake Blvd, west of Ramsey Blvd
    • Residential townhouse subdivision
    • Construction between 2004 and 2005
      • 1.14 miles of 32’ wide urban section with concrete curb & gutter
    • Crack seal / seal coat improvement in 2010
    • Crack seal improvement in 2021

 
Proposed Improvements
Review of ground penetrating radar (GPR), as-built plans, and the Bowers Drive Mill and Overlay Evaluation performed by Braun Intertec indicates three separate mill and overlay thicknesses will be used on the various street segments.
 
Orchard Hills Townhomes subdivision does not have sufficient pavement thickness for a 2-inch mill and overlay improvements, therefore a 1.0-inch mill and 1.5-inch bituminous overlay will be used. The section of Cobalt Street between Alpine Drive and 152^nd Lane is proposed to receive a full-depth mill and fill of approximately 3.5-inches.
 
Bowers Drive will receive a full-depth mill and overlay of approximately 3.5-inches. The bituminous will be placed in 2 lifts.  Additionally, some minor base corrections are anticipated to be required.
 
All remaining subdivisions have sufficient existing bituminous thickness to perform a 2-inch mill and bituminous overlay.
 
Per typical overlay improvements, spot concrete curb and gutter repairs will be performed on damaged curb. Where feasible, the City has switched to a saw & seal method for curb cracks at a significant cost savings. This is performed on hairline cracks, without vertical displacement. For areas of bituminous curbing, repairs to the curbing are not anticipated, though the City typically updates curb adjacent to storm sewer inlets to concrete during mill and overlay projects.
 
Municipal sewer and water exist under all street segments in the project except for Bowers Drive. This project is not proposing any repairs to watermain or sanitary sewer.
 
Minor storm sewer structure repairs, typically re-grouting catch basins, is proposed. Additionally, the project proposes adding hydrodynamic separators to the storm sewer system along Bowers Drive for the two outlets to the Mississippi River. The separators are a cost-effective TSS removal device, which is used in leu of infiltration basins. Infiltration basins would require significant surface area, grading, and drainage easements which the City do not currently have.
 
Four of the townhouse subdivisions include extensive pedestrian ramps which do not meet current American with Disability Act (ADA) standards, and will require upgrades. A total of 50 pedestrian ramps were found to require upgrades, and will be replaced during construction.
 
As an alternative bid item, this project also includes converting the gravel segment of Basalt Street south of 141^st Avenue to a fully paved street section including concrete curb and gutter and storm sewer. The street will be built to a width of 36 feet, with parking on one side, and terminate in a cul-de-ac built to 66 feet in diameter. This is the largest cul-de-sac that will fit in the existing right of way. Staff reviewed options for increasing the cul-de-sac to the standard 100-foot diameter, but found it not feasible, largely due to the significant impacts on the existing commercial sites adjacent to the street. The pavement will be built to a 10-ton pavement strength design, which is typical for commercial/industrial streets, by placing 4-inches bituminous pavement on top of 6-inches aggregate base.  Staff recommends awarding this alternative bid item due to the significant cost savings related to maintenance of the gravel surfacing that will be realized over time.  
 
The proposed improvements are designated as City Improvement Project #24-07, 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements.
 
Preliminary Schedule Remaining

• Council awards contract to the lowest responsible bidder, North Valley, Inc.
  • June 11, 2024
• Contractor begins construction
  • On or around July 8, 2024 (dependent on Contractor’s schedule)
• Substantial Completion
  • August 31, 2024
  • Final lift of bituminous pavement in-place, concrete repairs compete, boulevard restoration in-place
• Final Completion
  • September 30, 2024
  • Verify final turf establishment, project clean up complete

 
Bid Opening
On June 4, 2024, a total of three (3) bids were publicly opened and tabulated and the following bids were found to comply with the advertisements for bids.
 

Contractor	Base Bid	Alternate Bid	Total Bid
North Valley, Inc.	$1,478,973.36	$83,575.67	$1,562,549.03
GMH Asphalt Corporation	$1,533,328.05	$76,838.85	$1,610,166.90
Park Construction Company	$1,639,857.41	$76,867.08	$1,716,724.49
Engineer’s Estimate	$1,462,680.00	$82,828.75	$1,545,508.75

 
North Valley, Inc. of Nowthen, Minnesota, submitted a total bid in the amount of $1,562,549.03 for the base bid plus alternate bid for said improvements in accordance with the approved plans and specifications and advertisement for bids, and is the lowest responsible bidder.
 
Adding indirect costs in the amount of 14-percent for administrative, engineering, finance, and legal costs brings the total project costs to $1,781,305.89.
 
The low bid is 1.1 percent higher than the engineer’s estimate.
 
Bidding was competitive, with all bids being within 10-percent of the low bid. 

If a contract for construction is awarded, letters will be mailed to property owners with updates on the project status. The Engineering department maintains City Improvement Project webpages with the most current project information, which will also be updated. 

Timeframe:
Staff estimates up to 10 minutes will be needed to present this case and respond to questions. 
 
Alternatives:
Alternative 1 - Motion to adopt Resolution #24-156 accepting bids and awarding a contract for construction for 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements, Improvement Project #24-07 for the base bid plus alternate bid to North Valley, Inc. in the amount of $1,562,549.03.
 
Alternative 2 - Motion to adopt Resolution #24-156 accepting bids and awarding a contract for construction for 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements, Improvement Project #24-07 for the base bid only to North Valley, Inc. in the amount of $1,478,973.36.
 
Alternative 3 - Motion to deny adoption of Resolution #24-156 at this time.   

Funding for this improvement is proposed to come from Pavement Management (PM) Funds, Stormwater Utility Funds and Sanitary Sewer Utility Funds. The alternative Basalt Street construction does not qualify for Pavement Management Funds so funding is proposed to come from Public Improvement Revolving (PIR) Funds.
 
The City collected a $10,000 Road Improvement Fee as part of the Garden View development in 2019, to be used towards a future pavement mill and overlay of 147th Lane (Seasons of Ramsey segment). This was due to the significant street patches within 147th Lane required for water and sewer connections as part of the development.
 
Total project costs for each funding source will be presented during the Council meeting. 

Staff recommends approving alternative #1 for reasons noted herein.  

Adopt Resolution #24-156 accepting bids and awarding a contract for construction for 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements, Improvement Project #24-07, for the base bid plus alternate bid to North Valley, Inc. in the amount of $1,562,549.03.