Consider Recommending City Council Approval of Plans and Specifications for Improvement Project #17-01, Alpine Drive Reconstruction

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider recommending City Council approval of plans and specifications for Improvement Project #17-01, Alpine Drive Reconstruction.
 
Background:
Attached are current plans for Improvement Project #17-01, Alpine Drive Reconstruction.  These plans are being reviewed by MnDOT State Aid.  Approval by State Aid must be received before the City can bid the project.  Staff anticipates receiving State Aid approval prior to requesting City Council approval of plans and specifications and authorization to bid the project on May 9^th.  This schedule would allow construction to begin in late June and to be substantially complete by September 1^st.

The design represented in the attached plans is has been modified from the design discussed with the City Council and addressed within the Feasibility Report as follows.
 
The primary design difference is that instead of reclaiming the existing crushed concrete base material and reusing it on site for aggregate base, all of the existing crushed concrete base material is now proposed to be removed and properly disposed of off-site.  This change was made based on subsequent discoveries which indicate the crushed concrete base material has a significant amount of fines and therefore if reused on site it could result in some of the same pavement tenting issues over time.  This design modification was therefore made to ensure the proposed improvements will perform adequately over time and result in a minimum pavement life of 30 years as outlined in the Feasibility Report.
 
Additional grading and storm sewer work was also incorporated into the plans based on findings made during final design related to a culvert under Alpine Drive that was previously buried.
 
The Feasibility Report identified estimated costs in the amount of $463,000.  The current estimated project costs per the attached plans are $522,408.60.  While the proposed project cost is $59,408.60 more than was identified in the Feasibility Report, staff feels this cost increase is justified to ensure the new pavement section will achieve a minimum pavement life of 30 years by removing and disposing of the crushed concrete base.

Staff estimates 10 minutes will be required to present this case and respond to questions.

Observations:
Letters were mailed to the residential property owners on the west of the project to inform them of the proposed improvements, including the proposed schedule, and of the City’s plans to close this segment of Alpine Drive during construction.  Again, all of these properties have their primary driveway off of Armstrong Boulevard, and garbage hauling and mail delivery services also occur on Armstrong Boulevard so closing Alpine Drive will not impact services to these properties.  The proposed detour route occurs along Ramsey Boulevard/CSAH 56, Bunker Lake Boulevard/CSAH 116, and Armstrong Boulevard/CSAH 83.  Anoka County has reviewed and approved the proposed detour route.
 
The plans have also been submitted to Anoka County for review and approval.  The estimated fee for this review is $150.

Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion recommending City Council approval of plans and specifications for Improvement Project #17-01, Alpine Drive Reconstruction.

Alternative #2 – Motion of other.

Staff proposes to fund the proposed improvements using a combination of street reconstruction bond funds and stormwater utility funds.  No special assessments are proposed with this project.

Staff recommends alternative #1.

Motion to recommend City Council approval of plans and specifications for Improvement Project #17-01, Alpine Drive Reconstruction.