Agenda - Council - 06/09/2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Pavement Improvements Variolite Street is a Municipal State Aid (MSA) street and must be reconstructed to current MSA design standards as regulated by the State Aid Division of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Given the MSA 9-ton pavement design requirement, the potential for heavy truck traffic, and the varying subgrade soils encountered along the corridor, the pavement was designed as a Stabilized Full Depth Reclamation (SFDR) with 4-inches of new bituminous pavement placed on top. The surface elevation of Variolite Street generally remains unchanged. The new pavement width remains the same north of 163rd Lane, but will generally be 6-feet narrower south of 163rd Lane to facilitate a reduced posted speed limit of 40 mph. The pavement width at 161st Avenue will be 50-feet to accommodate the pedestrian crosswalk and turn lane improvements, and will transition back to a width of 34-feet within several hundred feet on both sides of the intersection. To properly transition from the new edge of pavement to adjoining side streets and driveways, some paving work on side streets and driveways will be required, though such work is proposed to occur within City -owned right of way and easements, not on private property. In the unlikely event work needs to occur on private property, Staff will work with affected property owners to complete all work to the property owner's satisfaction. A segment of Variolite Street just north of Trott Brook about 150-feet long has been repaired several times over the years due to damage resulting from high groundwater. At times, groundwater has been observed flowing up through cracks in the pavement. To help prevent similar damage in the future, 4-inch perforated PVC drain tile will be installed under the new pavement section to drain the groundwater into the drainage ditches. Stormwater Improvements Stormwater is generally conveyed through existing drainage ditches along both sides of Variolite Street, with culverts extending under driveways, abutting side streets, and under Variolite Street at low points. Several culverts will be replaced with this project, though driveway culverts are not proposed to be replaced. Municipal Utility Improvements Trunk utility improvements are proposed with this project including the replacement of existing 10-inch force main trunk sanitary sewer with 21-inch gravity trunk sewer between 163rd Avenue and 166th Avenue, and the extension of 12-inch trunk watermain from 166th Avenue to 173rd Avenue. These improvements are consistent with the 2040 City of Ramsey Comprehensive Plan in support of future expansion of City sewer and water to northern areas of the City to serve future development, and are proposed to be constructed with this project to prevent unnecessary street reconstruction costs in the future. Alternate Bids Alternate Bid A - Specifies construction of a Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) pedestrian actuated signal system with advance warning signs. This signal system utilizes flashing amber lights both at the pedestrian crosswalk and hundreds of feet in advance to alert drivers that a pedestrian is using the crosswalk. Attached are pictures of the existing RRFB at Armstrong Boulevard and Riverdale Drive for reference. Alternate Bid B - Specifies construction of directionally bored high -density polyethylene (HDPE) watermain in lieu of open trenching ductile -iron pipe (DIP) watermain as specified in the base bid. Please note that Alternate Bid B may be bid as a positive amount if the contractor feels it will cost them more to construct the HDPE watermain as specified, or a negative amount if they feel it will cost them less to construct the HDPE watermain. Property Access During the design process, Staff made every effort to keep all work within existing right of ways and easements and does not anticipate construction impacts to private properties. However, due to the nature of construction there will be temporary interruptions to access of driveways and side streets that directly access Variolite Street. Sanitary sewer construction will be over 20-feet deep in areas between 163rd Avenue and 166th Avenue so Variolite Street will need to be closed to traffic during this construction. However, a temporary access road will be provided to maintain access for the four (4) properties on 165th Lane, and for the properties with direct access to