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| Although we all wanted it completed earlier--the Beulah portion of the 4-lane project on 9-mile road will be completed this year! |
Many folks in Beulah have been asking about the lack of progress on the project to 4-lane 9-Mile Road from Beulah Road over to Interstate 10.
I know the completion date has slipped due to numerous factors--but folks want to know what's up with this project so I asked FDOT for an up-to-the minute update and status of where we are, and I will cut and paste it below for folks who want to read it all.
But the good news is this: Segment 6 (from Beulah Road to the Interstate--where all the gridlock is for us Beulah residents) is slated to be done this year, in late 2019.
This is fantastic news because I heard persistent rumors that it would not be complete until as late as August, 2020.
But I confirmed, today, that the Beulah portion will be 4 lanes and open to traffic by the end of this year.
From the report:
"CONTRACT E3O54
Financial Project ID (FIN): 218605-6-52-01; Road Construction
Project from a point just west of Beulah Road to Below Interstate 10
FIN: 218605-7-52-01; Road Construction Project from Below
Interstate 10 to a point just west of Surrey Drive (west of Pine Forest Road)
FIN: 218605-6-56-01;
Utility Construction Project (relocate ECUA water and sewer mains and services)
from a point just west of Beulah Road to Below Interstate 10
FIN: 218605-7-56-01;
Utility Construction Project (relocate ECUA water and sewer mains and services)
from Below Interstate 10 to just west of Surrey Drive (west of Pine Forest
Road)
Contract time began: 3/31/16
Design began: 3/31/16
Released for Construction Plans stamped: 2/1/17
Revision #1 stamped: 3/8/17
Revision #2 stamped: 4/14/17
Revision #3 stamped: 4/25/17
Revision #4 stamped: 5/3/17
Revision #5 stamped: 7/3/18
Revision #6 stamped: 8/17/18
Revision #7 stamped: 12/26/18
Revision #8 stamped 12/7/18
Both Utility Projects FIN 218605-6-56-01 and FIN 218605-7-56-01
were completed in May 2017. The relocation of the utilities was necessary to
begin the road construction. Please note that clearing and grubbing operations
began in September of 2016 to advance the utility relocation projects.
Storm water drainage, unsuitable soils removal and bridge
construction began in February 2017. Bridge construction was completed in
November 2017.
On October 3, 2017 the Contractor implemented their
Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plan and closed the inside lanes in the existing
four (4) lane section to begin construction of work beneath Interstate 10
(I-10). Due to the volume of traffic on westbound Nine Mile Rd. and exiting
westbound I-10 traffic backed-up past Pine Forest Road (on Nine Mile Road and
on I-10). To mitigate traffic backing up onto westbound I-10 as well as Nine
Mile Road the Department directed the Contractor to remove the MOT and reopen
the lanes. This started the delay to the critical path. The Contractor was
directed to redesign the MOT to maintain the two (2) westbound lanes on Nine
Mile Road. As the Engineers worked to modify the MOT they discovered that the
limited right of way would not allow them to design a plan that would maintain
both westbound lanes and allow for the lowering and increase in elevation/grade.
There are specific requirements for slopes, drop-off, barrier wall, and work
space. There was not enough space to meet the requirements. It was determined
that a full redesign of the roadway was necessary to maintain the existing two
(2) lanes. During this redesign the critical path was stopped. Crews scheduled
to work were redirected to other projects and some crews were allocated to work
on the roadway section between Beulah Road and Eleven Mile Creek.
Revisions #5 was received and stamped 7/3/18 and crews were
able to return to work on items that have not changes as we negotiated the cost
of the changes. This delayed the project over 190 days. During the negotiations
the costs were much higher than anticipated and additional redesign was needed
to try to get the cost to a more reasonable limit. Revision #8 was stamped
12/7/18 and we anticipate completing the negotiations for the changes this week.
The Projects had weather that significantly impacted the
work. Weather does not just affect the project for the day it rains, the impact
can extend for days due to the wet conditions of the soils and lime rock base.
Each lift of soil, subgrade, base, etc. must meet specific material
requirements and densities. These densities are heavily dependent on the
moisture content of the materials. The Segment 6 Project (FIN 218605-6-52-01)
is impacted more due to the water table being so close to the surface of the
ground and the poor quality of the existing soils and its ability to perk
water.
The project schedule was also impacted by legal issues
related to right of way takings. Several properties remain open under
Stipulated Orders of Taking. Impacts from these Orders have impacted the
roadway design and construction between the Eleven Mile Creek and the
Interstate. In late July 2018 the access design was approved by the legal team.
The approved design caused a significant amount of re-work of some buried
utilities before the construction could begin. This was completed in January
2019.
The Contract’s Critical path was delayed 190 days for the
redesign (identified above), 316 days due
to weather, 125 days for added work,
88 days for holidays, and 9 for design review. These added days move the
Allowable Contract Time to May 25, 2020. This date will move since it does not account
for any pending outstanding delay issues, any potential weather delays, and
scheduled holidays. We estimated a contract completion of August 2020
(estimating holidays and resolution of pending delays - weather is harder to
estimate). This date is an estimated date.
While the Contractor has completed most of the drainage
work for Phase I and part of Phase II on the Segment 7 Project (FIN
218605-7-52-01) they have focused on getting the Segment 6 Project (Financial
Aide ID 218605-6-52-01) opened to four lanes first. The Contractor has
completed the placement of the first of two (2) lifts of structural asphalt
between Beulah Road and Eleven Mile Creek on the new eastbound roadway. Crews
removed the existing connection of Beulah Road (south side) at Nine Mile Road
and completed reconstruction through the base (used asphalt base in lieu of
lime rock base) over the weekend of January 26-27, 2019. The Contractor is trying
to get the limerock base between the project beginning and Beulah Road (new
eastbound roadway) to dry. However, when the material is dry enough to work
another weather front occurs and the process restarts over again. Once the lime
rock is dry crews can continue to grade and obtain the required density and
place the first lift of asphalt to tie the new eastbound roadway together.
Crews will straightedge the new roadway, identify any high and low areas, make
corrections, place the second lift of structural asphalt, place striping for
two-way traffic and shift traffic into Phase II of Construction. This shift is anticipated to occur in June
2019 pending weather, holidays, and any unforeseen delays. In Phase II the
Contractor anticipates working from Interstate 10 back to the west performing
milling/resurfacing of the existing roadway, widening, removal of the section
that need to be elevated, construction of the box culvert extensions, storm
water drainage and construction of the roadway. Currently, the Contractor
anticipates have all four lanes of traffic for the Segment 6 Project (FIN
218605-6-52-01) open by late 2019.
As work continues in Phase II on the Segment 6 Project
(FIN 218605-6-52-01) additional crews should be available as other projects are
completed. Crews will focus on the Segment 6 Project (FIN 218605-6-52-01),
however work will occur on the Segment 7 Project (FIN 218605-7-52-01) also. The
Segment 7 Project (FIN 218605-7-52-01) is 1/3 as long and is significantly less
embankment, excavation, and full reconstruction. All of the existing roadway
will be milled/resurfaced and widened verse full removal and reconstruction."
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