COUNCIL REPORT: CAPITAL BUDGET APPROVAL FOR 2015 ANNUAL PAVEMENT REHABILITATION

CAPITAL BUDGET APPROVAL FOR 2015 ANNUAL PAVEMENT REHABILITATION

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Council approves the 2015 annual pavement rehabilitation capital budget (Island Highway from Adams Place to the Colwood Interchange intersection), in the amount of $150,000.00;

AND THAT Council approves the paving work on Island Highway from Adams Place to the Colwood Interchange to be carried out in the hours between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. (Monday to Friday) as detailed in this report.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE’S COMMENTS:

I concur with the recommendation.

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

To receive Council’s approval to expend $150,000 of the 2015 capital budget for annual pavement rehabilitation.

TIME CRITICAL:

Early budget approval is required in order to carry out the paving works on Island Highway in conjunction with the CRD’s E&N Rail Trail Phase 2 construction paving, currently scheduled for late March. Staff needs this approval as soon as possible in order to begin the planning and coordination of works to meet the March timeframe.

BACKGROUND:

Many sections of pavement through the entire length of the Island Highway are failing and are in staff’s paving plan for rehabilitation. Last year the section in front of the new Public Safety Building was rehabilitated. The section of roadway westbound (towards Colwood) from Adams Place to the Colwood Interchange intersection (at Highway 1/Burnside Road West) requires pavement restoration this year due to safety concerns with severe rutting and shoving as detailed below.

The curb and gutter along the north side of Island Highway from Adams Place to the Colwood Interchange will be relocated in the CRD’s E&N Rail Trail project. Since this will require asphalt removal and replacement, as well as reinstatement of the traffic signal loops, it makes monetary and logistical sense to partner with the CRD and carry out the full rehabilitation of the westbound lanes.

PROJECT INFORMATION:

The surface condition of the pavement in this section is severely distressed – there are surface defects (rutting with transverse displacement), surface deformations (rippling and shoving) and alligator cracking in both the wheel paths and at the centreline through the intersection. These types of distresses are mainly due to heavy traffic related loads, wear and friction, and can impact driving safety as they affect the handling characteristics of a vehicle.

The rut depth in this location is classified as severe (greater than 20mm) as per MoTI’s rut depth threshold for pavement maintenance management. Pavement with this rut depth has the potential for hydroplaning and a significant increase in wet-weather accidents.

Capital City Paving will carry out the paving works under the 2014 Asphalt Paving Works Contract, which is in effect until October of this year. Capital City Paving is also the contractor carrying out the paving works for the Rail Trail project. The Rail Trail project includes paving work along the north side of the roadway, as well as at the intersection letdowns at Adams Place and the Colwood Interchange intersection, so a portion of the paving work will be paid for under that project.

The Rail Trail project will also affect the inductive loops embedded in the pavement for the traffic signal activation in the westbound lane on Island Highway. These will be extremely difficult to reinstall with the amount of pavement distress in the area if the pavement is not rehabilitated. Also, transitioning the asphalt patching resulting from the Rail Trail project to the distressed pavement will prove problematic.

The Rail Trail project also includes the reinstallation of a portion of road marking after its paving work, so some of the road marking costs will be covered by that project as well.

Due to high traffic volumes during weekday daytime hours on the Island Highway, staff recommends that the pavement rehabilitation be carried out in the evening/early morning hours between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. (Monday to Friday). The work is anticipated to take two to three nights. Depending on weather conditions, components of the work may have to take place during weekday daytime hours.

The intent is to have this paving, as well as the road marking, finished in time for the completion of the Rail Trail, tentatively scheduled for late April. If Council approves the paving work in the evening/early morning hours, staff will distribute notices to affected residences and Adams Storage in advance.

BUDGET IMPLICATIONS:

The requested amount of $150,000 for this project is sourced from Casino revenue.

Carrying out the works in coordination with the CRD’s Rail Trail project will result in cost savings to the Town.

As mentioned above, the paving work can be performed under the 2014 Asphalt Paving Works Contract, as this Contract, and its prices, are in effect until October of this year.

In addition to the paving works, the requested amount includes sub-base preparation and road marking.

SUSTAINABILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable to this report.

ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION:

Not applicable to this report.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT Council approves the 2015 annual pavement rehabilitation capital budget (Island Highway from Adams Place to the Colwood Interchange intersection), in the amount of $150,000.00;