As you’re aware, the City and the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) have begun widening improvements to Franklin Rd. between Moore’s Lane and Concord Rd. In order for the new roadway alignment to be constructed, various utility lines need to be relocated out of the planned construction area. Of these utilities, the City owns water and sewer lines located within the planned construction boundary that must be relocated.
Under TDOT regulations specific for this project, TDOT will reimburse the City for all direct construction costs associated with the relocating of water and sewer lines up to an amount not to exceed $3.5 million. Exceptions include costs associated with “betterment” of existing water and/or sewer lines and limited reimbursement for engineering inspection services.
For engineering costs, TDOT will reimburse the City for all relocation design & survey costs, but limit reimbursement of engineering inspection costs to construction work associated with water & sewer lines that currently exist within City-owned utility easements (as opposed to lines currently within the TDOT right-of-way). In September 2016, the Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with TDOT outlining projected engineering costs to be reimbursed. In March 2018, numerous design conflicts between various utilities (water and sewer, gas, electric and communications) required the City to approve contract supplement number one to increase engineering fee amounts to cover the increased costs for required construction plan modifications. Since that time, there have been additional construction related changes due to unforeseen utility conflicts with the sewer, excess project coordination and the addition of a low pressure sewer project to serve the residence at 1504 Franklin Road as a result of roadwork damage to the existing septic system. These issues have resulted in the City’s utility relocation engineer requesting additional fees to cover the cost of this work.
Accordingly, H&D Engineers, the City’s water and sewer utility project engineer, has revised their engineering fees related to sewer relocations to include an additional $48,963.38 of which $41,345.94 are eligible for reimbursement. The Water Department’s cost as a result of this supplement is $7,617.44. The table below summarizes all sewer related engineering fees to date (water related fees are not adjusted this supplement):
| SEWER FEES |
|
REIMBURSABLE |
|
| |
TOTAL COST |
AMOUNT |
CITY COST |
| Orig. Contract |
$132,909.99 |
$77,768.27 |
$55,141.72 |
| Supplement #1 (Add) |
$14,636.39 |
$14,636.39 |
$0.00 |
| Supplement #2 (Add) |
$48,963.38 |
$41,345.94 |
$7,617.44 |
| Total Amount |
$196,509.76 |
$133,750.60 |
$62,759.16 |
The proposed increases in design fees shown above have been submitted to TDOT for review and have been given preliminary approval by TDOT. Staff is recommending approval of the enclosed supplement to the original agreement with TDOT.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Chris Milton, Director Water Services. |