Agenda - Public Works Committee - 10/19/2010

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CASE #5 CONSIDER CONTRACT REVISIONS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF ARMSTRONG BOULEVARD, IMPROVEMENT PROJECT #06-20 By: Tim Himmer, City Engineer Background: As part of the Ramsey Town Center Regional Roadway Improvements associated with the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with Anoka County, the City was required to be the lead agency for the reconstruction of Armstrong Boulevard, similar to the already completed Ramsey and Sunfish Lake Boulevards, from TH 10 to the north. The Armstrong Boulevard improvements were scheduled for construction in 2009; however during the plan approval process in 2008 Council directed staff to investigate the option of constructing an overpass instead of the proposed interim improvements. On March 10, 2009 the City Council approved a revision to the JPA with Anoka County, and City and County staff began studying the options for an Armstrong Boulevard interchange over the BNSF tracks and TH 10. The County requested as part of the JPA revision that the City continue to move forward with planned improvements at the Armstrong Boulevard and Bunker Lake Boulevard intersection as a 2010 construction project, which would include the installation of traffic signals, turn lanes and divided medians. Council authorized the acquisition of properties associated with this project on January 12, 2010. Due to the unknown location of the TH 10 interchange, and its effects on the existing Armstrong Boulevard alignment, the signalization of the Bunker Lake and Armstrong Boulevard intersection was delayed. Now that it has been determined that the existing intersection will remain in its current location this project can now be initiated, with an anticipated construction schedule of early 2011. In the future there will be additional costs related to the interchange construction and supporting Armstrong Boulevard improvements, which will dovetail into this project and not require extensive removals. Observations: The City initially requested a proposal for design services for these improvements from TKDA, which was accepted on June 8, 2004 in the amount of $250,200. The scope and schedule for this project has changed numerous times over the years, including expanded and contracted project limits due to the Town Center evolution and development proposals, extension of utilities south of TH 10, and revised right-of-way platting resulting in a total contract amount of $414,867 to date. Now that the final scope has been determined for a portion of this project a final construction package can be prepared and distributed for bid. Since the original project scope was nearly completed, prior to the Council deciding on a new approach to investigate the interchange option, staff has received a request for Amendment No. 4 from TKDA in the amount of $29,200 to complete the necessary revisions to the construction documents for the purposes of bidding the intersection improvements. Since the Legacy