Council Communication Office of the City Manager	Date	March 10, 2008
	Agenda Item No. 8B Roll Call No. 08- Communication No. 08-119 Submitted by: Jeb E. Brewer, P.E. City Engineer

AGENDA HEADING:

Ordering construction of the following: Southeast Connector - Des Moines River Bridge with Levee, Sanitary Sewer, and Water Main Relocation - Receiving bids, (3-18-08), and Setting date of hearing, (4-7-08). (Construction Estimate - $9,975,000).

SYNOPSIS:

Recommend the City Council proceed with construction of the improvement and set dates to receive bids and hold a public hearing, as required by Iowa Code, utilizing the method of financing referenced below. On January 23, 2006, City Council approved the design concept of a basic bridge with enhancements for the new Southeast Connector Des Moines River Bridge. The bridge design was developed with the ongoing participation of the Project Advisory Committee and the Corridor Aesthetic Team. On February 7, 2007, an overall update on the bridge design was presented at a City Council Workshop. As presented at that time, the estimated bridge cost was within the budget and included approximately $1 million for aesthetic enhancements. The enhancements include: Pier extensions and viewing stations along the pedestrian rails, entrance piers at each corner, lighting, and color to enhance appearance and attention to the rail detail. The bridge design also incorporated pedestrian crossings underneath the bridge, adjacent to the river and the use of open arch piers.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Amount: $9,975,000 City Engineer's Estimate

Funding Source: 2007-2008 CIP, Page Street-41, Southeast Connector - SW Second to SE Sixth Street, STR214, $10,638,451 in available funding being: $1,533,690 in TIF, $971,200 in Federal Transportation earmark funds under NHSX-U-1945(402)--8S-77, $2,970,000 in Federal Transportation earmark funds and $2,292,000 in Federal Surface Transportation Program funds under NHSX-U-1945(403)--8S-77, and $2,871,561 in Federal Transportation earmark funds under NHSX-U-1945(405)--8S-77

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Federal Highway Administration approved the re-evaluation of the Martin Luther King Environmental Impact Statement on October 18, 2007. This approval allowed the City to begin negotiating with MidAmerican Energy and MidAmerican Group for the acquisition of the one property needed for the bridge construction project. The environmental approval and property acquisition determined the letting date for the bridge project. The bridge construction project includes vibration monitoring to comply with the Programmatic Agreement with the Federal Highway Administration, IDOT and the Iowa State Historic Preservation Office.

IDOT and the City of Des Moines have an agreement, previously approved by the City Council, under which IDOT has agreed to advertise, receive, open, and tabulate sealed bids. For bidding purposes, the bridge construction project has been combined with the needed levee and utility work on the east side of the Des Moines River. The location of the bridge abutment necessitated levee modifications and relocation of water and sewer in the area. There will be a future construction project to construct the roadway and bridge approaches. While the bridge construction is underway, roadway construction will begin to the east in 2009. The current schedule provides for completing roadway construction between SW 2nd and SE 6th Streets by the end of 2010.

The Engineering Department has prepared plans, specifications, form of contract documents, and City Engineer’s estimate for the construction of the Southeast Connector - Des Moines River Bridge with Levee, Sanitary Sewer, and Water Main Relocation, 12-2007-003. The improvement includes construction of the following two improvements which IDOT has tied as one single project:

1. Southeast Connector: Des Moines River Bridge, IDOT Project No. NHSX-U-1945(403)--8S-77 and NHSX-U-1945(405)--8S-77, Activity ID 12-2007-003, being construction of an eastbound 720' x 36' pretensioned prestressed concrete beam bridge, and a westbound 687'x 36' pretensioned prestressed concrete beam bridge, along with all the necessary excavation, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, structural steel, concrete barrier railing, steel railings, bridge deck drains, steel bearing pile, slope protection, concrete rustication, concrete colored sealer coat, roadway lighting, bridge accent lighting, underdeck security lighting, construction survey, and mobilization; all in accordance with the contract documents including Plan File Nos. 481-001/275.

2. Southeast Connector: Levee, Sanitary Sewer, and Water Main Relocation, IDOT Project No. NHSX-U-1945(402)--8S-77, Activity ID 04-2007-010, being construction of approximately 292 LF of 12-inch ductile iron water main and 542 LF of 48-inch concrete sanitary sewer pipe, along with all the necessary excavation, selected backfill, compaction, removals, slotted drains, subdrain, intakes, storm sewer, sanitary sewer, utility access structures, Hot Mix Asphalt recreation trail, PCC driveway, PCC pavement patches, contaminated soil handling and disposal, slope protection, traffic control, safety closures, fence work, silt fence, topsoil, and restoration; all in accordance with the contract documents including Plan File Nos. 481-276/318.

The improvement is generally located from the west side of the Des Moines River near the intersection of Elm Street and Water Street easterly across the Des Moines River to near the intersection of Raccoon Street and S.E. 3rd Street.

The estimated construction cost is $9,975,000. The proposed plans, specifications, and form of contract documents are available for public inspection in the City Engineer's Office.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION(S):

Date: September 11, 2006

Roll Call Number: 06-1829

Action: Programmatic Agreement with Federal Highway Administration, Iowa Department of Transportation, and Iowa State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the Southeast Connector Urban Arterial Projects and Associated Features to define the process for identifying, evaluating and treating historical properties and archeological resources. (Council Communication No. 06-570) Moved by Vlassis to adopt. Motion Carried 6-0.

Date: January 23, 2006

Roll Call Number: 06-124

Action: Approving Bridge Design Concept for Southeast Connector over the Des Moines River. (Council Communication No. 06-037) Moved by Brooks to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0.

Date: March 7, 2005

Roll Call Number: 05-530

Action: Execution of Iowa Department of Transportation Agreement. (Council Communication No. 05-098) Moved by Hensley to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0.

Date: March 7, 2005

Roll Call Number: 05-531

Action: Execution of Professional Services Agreement with Kirkham Michael & Associates, (Dale Miller, President, Omaha, NE) for design services, not to exceed $4,000,000. (Council Communication No. 05-099) Moved by Brooks to adopt. Motion Carried 7-0.

BOARD/COMMISSION ACTION(S):

Date: July 10, 2007

Roll Call Number: NA

Action: Urban Design Review Board approved the proposed SE Connector Bridge project. The Board asked that additional information regarding pedestrian circulation and the planned pathway system be presented and clarified when the roadway project is submitted in the future.

ANTICIPATED ACTIONS AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS:

Anticipated actions include public hearing, receive and file bids, designate lowest bidder, and approve contract and bond; also partial payments to the contractor and final acceptance of work.

For more information on this and other agenda items, please call the City Clerk’s Office at 515-283-4209 or visit the Clerk’s Office on the second floor of City Hall, 400 Robert D. Ray Drive. Council agendas are available to the public at the City Clerk’s Office on Thursday afternoon preceding Monday’s Council meeting. Citizens can also request to receive meeting notices and agendas by email by calling the Clerk’s Office or sending their request via email to cityclerk@dmgov.org.