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Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 131-2016 sanctioning continuation of the closure of Malcolm Dixon Road in the El Dorado Hills area during construction of a sewer line to serve the Wilson Estates Subdivision development (TM14-1515). Daily closures will begin on July 29, 2016, and continue for thirty (30) calendar days or until the work is complete, whichever is sooner, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The closure is subject to conditions set forth in Resolution 110-79 dated May 1, 1979, and in the "Special Event Permit Application;" and
2) Delegate the authority to extend this road-closure to the Community Development Agency Director, as necessary and justified, should underground conditions or other substantive issues prevent the work from being completed on-time.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, recommending Board approval of the road closure to provide for the safety of the Contractor, residents, and the traveling public along the road and to assist in the success of the project.
Other involved agencies have made no objections to these closures.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On June 28, 2016, the Board approved Resolution 101-2016 authorizing the daily closure of portions of Uplands Drive and Malcolm Dixon Road, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for a period of up to 30 days, to allow for construction of a sewer line necessary for the Wilson Estates project (Item No. 35). On July 19, 2016 the Board also approved Resolution 125-2016 authorizing the complete closure of Malcolm Dixon Road from 100 feet east of Alta Vista Court to 50 feet west of the driveway to 1401 Malcolm Dixon Road from 7:00 a.m. Monday, July 25, 2016 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 29, 2016, including work hours from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Item No. 53).
Construction of the sewer line has progressed more slowly than expected. As of July 20, 2016, approximately 20 percent of the work had been completed and the daily closure authorization expires on July 28th. Hard subsurface rock and limited access has slowed construction beyond what was anticipated. Beginning of work was also delayed approximately 7 days due to conflicts in construction crew schedules. Accordingly, the roadway was not closed on a daily basis for that same period of time.
Renasci Homes (Developer) is requesting an additional 30 days of road closure to complete the work.
Staff recommends approval of their request for the following reasons:
1. A daily closure of the roadway is a safer condition for the public and workers than an alternative of allowing reversing traffic control throughout the work period. The roadway is narrow and frequent vehicle traffic adjacent to active work has some inherent risk.
2. Underground rock conditions may cause the excavation to be wider than anticipated, leaving less room for vehicles to pass. This condition has been observed in several locations thus far.
3. Additional daily closures will allow the work to be completed more quickly. Requiring reversing traffic controls will necessitate work stopping as traffic is piloted through the work zone frequently and therefore would extend the number of days the roadway will be impacted.
As the existing closure authorization expires on July 29th, prior to the next scheduled Board meeting of August 2nd, the additional closure authorization is recommended to be made retroactive to July 29th, to complete the work as quickly as possible.
In addition to the recommended closure, staff also recommends the Board delegate the authority to extend this road-closure to the Community Development Agency Director, as necessary and justified, should underground conditions or other substantive issues prevent the work from being completed on-time, and as the Director determines the public interest is best served by extending the closure authorization for a reasonable period of time.
This closure will be a “rolling type closure” with no more than 300 feet of roadway closed on any given day. The residents that will be directly impacted by the closed section will be safely escorted in their vehicles through the closure while construction is occurring between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Doug Veerkamp General Engineering, Inc. (Contractor) will maintain safe and convenient access for residents and emergency responders and will coordinate with affected residents at all times.
The Alta Vista Court homeowners will also be afforded escorted access. Since no more than 300 feet of roadway will be closed at any one time, the Contractor will ensure that the local traffic will continue to have convenient access to Malcolm Dixon Road. However, the roadway will be closed to thru traffic where shown on the Road Closure Plan (Attachment C). The residents within the Hickok Road and Arroyo Vista neighborhoods will have unrestricted access to their residences from the northerly intersection of Malcolm Dixon and Green Valley Road.
ALTERNATIVES
1. The Board may choose to deny the road closure. In this circumstance, the construction may be allowed to proceed, utilizing reversing traffic controls, limiting work to one side of the roadway, and piloting traffic on the other. Depending upon underground conditions, there may be circumstances when there is insufficient roadway width available to pass traffic safely. Should that condition arise, the sewer line cannot be installed and the Developer and applicant sponsor, Renasci Homes, will not be able to complete the required subdivision improvements or subdivision.
2. Alternative closure authorizations (longer, shorter, different work hours, etc.) are options available to the Board.
3. The Board may choose not to delegate the authority to extend the closure to the Community Development Agency Director, and should construction be further delayed, the Board could choose to grant or deny future extension requests.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Risk Management
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Chief Administrative Office concurs with staff's recommendations.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The requested Board item has no Fiscal Impact or Net County Cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair's signature on one (1) original of the Resolution.
2) The Clerk of the Board will send one (1) fully executed copy of the Resolution to the Community Development Agency, Transportation Division, Attn.: Andrew Gaber.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety, Economic Development, Infrastructure.
CONTACT
Andrew S. Gaber, Deputy Director
Development, Right of Way, Environmental
Community Development Agency, Transportation Division