Deskripsyon
Oakwood Avenue has been closed with construction work on the sewers for about three months now. The people who live on Oakwood Avenue have not been informed of the changes to the road closures. We have been very patient with the changing construction site, the noise, the hours, and with the lack of communication. However, our patience is wearing thin. Parking availability changes regularly without notice. Large sections of the street are ripped up, dusty, and muddy. Can the city please let those of us who have patiently tolerated this intrusion know something about the timeline of this project?
8 Komentos
Kinilala City of Raleigh 3 (Beripikadong Opisiyal)
abbynardo (Rehistradong User)
City of Raleigh 3 (Beripikadong Opisiyal)
glenwoodian (Rehistradong User)
Joe (Panauhin)
City of Raleigh 3 (Beripikadong Opisiyal)
Isinara City of Raleigh 3 (Beripikadong Opisiyal)
The Oakwood project has been a little more challenging than we were anticipating but the good news is that we are really close to finishing. The main issue is the hardness of rock (blue granite) throughout the project corridor and the inability to blast due to proximity of the historic homes and gas mains within the street. While we were anticipating running into rock and needing to mechanically remove it, the contractor has broken two of the largest track hoe hammers that you can buy due to the fact that the rock is so hard. This is even after it has been predrilled at 12 inches on center. We were also having problems with the water main breaking (even though we hadn’t had any previous problems with it) as we were digging the rock. We increased the scope of work to replace the water main as well so those folks will not be inconvenienced again.
What’s left? We have approximately 110’ of sewer remaining on Cook St. Last week the contractor enlarged the pre drilled holes and installed expanding mortar in those holes on Monday. The expanding mortar takes a couple of days to set up but will assist with fracturing the rock and make it easier to hammer out. With that said and weather permitting, we are anticipating that they will be completely finished (paving and everything) in two to three weeks. While this project has been challenging, we are fortunate to have Moffat Pipe, Inc. as the contractor as they do a tremendous job and I can’t imagine how bad this project could have been with a subpar contractor. I have been in communication recently with Chris Crew, who I believe is on the board with the Society for the Preservation of Historic Oakwood, to discuss the project schedule so that he can report back via their list serve to those residents affected.
On a related note, this may be a good opportunity to let some of the residents know about the Community Development (CD) project that will be taking place within the next few months (not exactly sure of their schedule) just down the street in the area known as East College Park. In an effort for more interdepartmental collaboration, CD will be replacing all of the water and sewer mains as part of the redevelopment of the blighted area bounded by New Bern Ave, Hill, Oakwood, and Raleigh Blvd. PU is funding the replacement of those mains which are estimated to be some of the oldest in the system (1910s).
While proactive main replacement projects such as Oakwood are an extreme inconvenience to the area residents, the alternative of running the pipes to failure are even more inconveniencing and costly. Please have the resident contact me directly at the number below if they have any additional questions or comments concerning the Oakwood project. The City has a large amount of infrastructure replacement projects on the horizon and feedback from the citizens such as this will allow for smoother projects in the future.
Aaron B. Brower, P.E.
City Construction Projects Administrator
Capital Improvements Management Division
Public Utilities Department
City of Raleigh
(919) 996-3469
glenwoodian (Rehistradong User)