HomeMy WebLinkAbout16. 20-223MAY 26, 2020
FIRST READING
(CARRIED
PURPOSE:
INITIATED BY
20-223 ORDINANCE
LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN )
APPROVE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF OAKWOOD ROAD AT
THE RAILROAD CROSSING
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AUTHORIZING A VARIANCE
TO SECTION 25-23 OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO STREETS
TO REMAIN OPEN TO TRAFFIC DURING THE COURSE OF EXCAVATION WORK.
WHEREAS, the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code Section 25-23 requires a
passageway of not less than ten (10) feet in the travelled portion of the street to remain open
on various streets within the City of Oshkosh, including Oakwood Road; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, LLC (WSOR) has requested full closure
of Oakwood Road at the right-of-way intersection with the WSOR tracks for replacement
of tracks, bedding, timbers and the adjacent roadway pavement that the tracks are encased
in; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary therefore to grant a variance from the terms of section 25-
23 for this purpose; and
WHEREAS, the anticipated time to complete the work is seven (7) days to be
completed on or before September 1, 2020.
NOW, THEREFORE the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh do ordain as
follows:
SECTION 1. Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, LLC (WSOR) is hereby granted a
variance from the provisions of Section 25-23 of the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code to
close Oakwood Road at the right-of-way intersection with the WSOR tracks for replacement
of tracks, bedding, timbers and adjacent roadway pavement subject to the following
conditions:
MAY 26, 2020
20-223 ORDINANCE
CONT'D
A. WSOR shall provide all necessary and required signage for the closure of
the street and detour of traffic.
B. WSOR shall complete the work on or before September 1, 2020; with the
actual closure of Oakwood Road being limited to seven (7) consecutive
days, unless extended by approval of the Director of Public Works due to
weather or other extraordinary conditions.
C. WSOR shall at least seven (7) days prior to the anticipated closure provide
notice to the Department of Public Works and install advance warning
signs for motorists.
D. WSOR shall work with the Police and Fire Departments to minimize the
effects of the street closure upon emergency services and the public.
E. The Director of Public Works is hereby authorized to approve such closure
and detour route, with conditions as he/she may deem necessary, and to take
such other action as may be necessary and appropriate in consultation with
the Police and Fire Chiefs of the City of Oshkosh to protect the health, safety
and welfare of the citizens.
SECTION 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its
passage, publication and placement of the appropriate temporary signage indicating the
closure.
SECTION 3. Publication Notice. Please take notice that the City of Oshkosh enacted
ordinance #20-XXX APPROVE TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF OAKWOOD ROAD AT
THE RAILROAD CROSSINGS (A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH
AUTHORIZING A VARIANCE TO SECTION 25-23 OF THE OSHKOSH MUNICIPAL
CODE PERTAINING TO STREETS TO REMAIN OPEN TO TRAFFIC DURING THE
COURSE OF EXCAVATION WORK) on June 9, 2020. The ordinance allows the temporary
closure of Oakwood Road at the right-of-way intersection with the WSOR tracks for
replacement of tracks, bedding, timbers and the adjacent roadway pavement. Advance
notice of the closure to motorists and installation of signage and detour signage shall be
provided during the closure. Closure shall be limited to seven (7) consecutive days and
shall be completed on or before September 1, 2020.
The full text of the ordinance may be obtained at the Office of the City Clerk, 215
Church Avenue and through the City's website at www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us. Clerk's phone:
920-236-5011.
TO:
FROM:
r,A
City
OfA:
Oshkosh
MEMORANDUM
Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
Justin Gierach, Engineering Division Manager / City Engineer
DATE: May 21, 2020
RE: Approve Closure of Oakwood Road at the Railroad Crossing
BACKGROUND
Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, LLC (WSOR) is planning to repair the existing railroad tracks
which intersect the right-of-way of Oakwood Road. The work to be performed by WSOR's
contractor will require the full replacement of the tracks, bedding, timbers, and the adjacent
roadway pavement that the tracks are encased in. Section 25-23 of the Municipal Code of the City
of Oshkosh requires Oakwood Road to remain open during excavation.
It is anticipated that this work will take seven (7) days to be completed. WSOR requests the
closure of Oakwood Road to allow full access to the section of rail that requires replacement,
while maintaining a safe and secure working environment for the construction crew, operators,
and the general public. This is not uncommon, given the equipment and work zone required for
completion of this work.
A detour route will be posted for the duration of the work on Oakwood Road using U. S. HWY
44, South Washburn Street, and West 201h Avenue. Access to businesses will be maintained for
the duration of the work. The closure is anticipated to be continuous over seven (7) days, weather
permitting. Advanced warning signs will be placed seven (7) days prior to the closure to warn
drivers.
ANALYSIS
Based on the excavation limits needed for the repair, staff determined Oakwood Road at the
railroad crossing needs to be closed to traffic. The time frame will be limited as much as possible
to minimize the impact to the traveling public. Additionally, worker safety and driver safety will
be compromised during this work, if done under traffic.
I: \Engineering\Tracy Taylor\ Memos to Mayor & Common Council\2020\ W50R-0akwood Rd Page 1 of 2
Closure Memo 5-21-20.doas
FISCAL IMPACT
There are no fiscal impacts to this ordinance.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I recommend approval of the request to close Oakwood Road at the railroad crossing with the
following conditions:
• The closure of Oakwood Road shall be limited to seven (7) consecutive days, weather
permitting, to allow WSOR's contractor to complete the necessary railroad track repairs.
• WSOR shall be responsible for posting detour routes, approved by the Department of Public
Works, and posting warning signs at least seven (7) days prior to the closures.
Approved:
Mark A. Rohloff
City Manager
R.c/ec
1: \Engineering\Tracy Taylor\ Memos to Mayor & Common Council \2020\ WliOR-Oakwood Rd Page 2 of 2
Closure Memo 521-20.dccx
Wisconsin &Southern Railroad, LLC.
11LAWWV 1890 E. Johnson St.
Madison, Wl 53704
www.wateocompanies.com
April 3, 2020 RECEIVED
Director of Public Works MAY 13 2020
City of Oshkosh, WI L)EPT OF PUBLIC WORKS
215 Church Ave. — PO Box I I 3Q OSHKOSH, WISCONSN
Oshkosh, WI 54903-1103
RE: Temporary Closure of Oakwood Rd. and Universal St. Railroad Crossings for Reconstruction - WSOR
2020 Oshkosh; Subdivision Rehabilitation.Project,
To Whom It. May Concern:
This letter is provided by the Wisconsin and Southern Railroad to explain the need to fully close the
Oakwood Rd, and Universal St: Railroad Crossings on a temporary basis (t week anticipated) to allow them to be
reconstructed in the spring/earlysummer of 2020, We are currently in the process of bidding this work out to
interested Railroad Contractors and have not set dates for the work to take place, The Railroad Contractors will
deterinine these dates based on their project schedule and information provided by the City of Os , hkosh and the
WSOR (dates to avoid, project completion date, etc..).
We request that the City of Oshkosh allows the detouring and complete closure of both Toads for this work.
The crossings will not be closed.at the same time, this will allow one to potentially serve as partof the detour route
for the other's closure. Full closure,of the roads .allows the workto progress in the most efficient manners and
produces the most desirable final product possible for the railway and the
he roadway. The WSOR has constructed
crossings in the past while the roadway remained partially open andrione of these crossings have produced
admirable results. It is not our recommended practice to construct crossings in this manner. Railroad crossings
Should be constructed under complete closure of the road for several reasons:
- One common piece of rail can be used through the crossing rather than the splicing of two rails in the
middle of the road. during the work. Joining of the rails in the middle of the crossing amplifies the
chances of a metallurgical defect in the rail at the weld in the crossing. The repair of this defect will
cause the roadway to be.partially or fully closed later.
- Lining and Tamping of the track can be done under one feffort. The straightness and consistent grade of
the track is very important to,the, life of the crossing, the railroad equipment and the vehicular traffic
that operates over it. The only way to line the track straight and tamp it consistently is to fully close the
roadway and allow the tamper to proceed through the entire crossing panel with multiple passes.
- The budget for the work has been agreed to with the Wisconsin DOT Bureau of Rails and. Harbors and
set for the crossing to be constructed under a full closure, of the road. Obviously, the construction. of the
crossing under two or more parts adds costs to the work, If this request is not granted, we will not be
able to do the work with our current budget. We either must request budgetary assistance from the City
of Oshkosh OR be forced:to abandon the reconstruction efforts at these two crossings for 2020.
Aside from the items mentioned above regarding the reasons why the crossings Should be constructed
under complete closures of the roads, there are several Safety Telatedreasons for the travelling p6bli I c and
construction crews that are affected by the roadway remaining partially open:
- Complete closure allows for the work to be done in a more efficient manner, whicli, allows the road to
resume full operation earlier. This benefits all involved with the project as well as first responders who
will, be clearly notified when the road is closed/reopened. If the roads remain open for the work, they
will most likely be blocked on occasion to travel track machinery
inery to/from the work zone. Also they
would be one lane wide at the work zone which could cause confusion for vehicles that need to move
over to, allow emergency traffic through. If" emergency personnel understand the road to be closed, they
will plan routes accordingly before the start.
Other confusion can cause large problems during this workin several ways which endanger the public
and the workers at the site:
o The nature of this work is much different than road work projecm Rather than performing rining
work oil A long stretch of the road, the work here effectivelyereates a: large 3' deep lible-in"tM
roadway, similar to the washout of a culvert in a large storm event. If motorists are confused
and drive on the wrong (closed) side of the road they will drive their car into the work zone,
endangering the workers, damaging their car and potentially injuring themselves. The car will
then need to be extracted frorn the 3' deep hole. Over 10 years doing (his type of work, I have
personally observed many vehicles who drive around the ROAD CLOSED barricades that we
have placed (often this occurs after hours) and get hung up in the hole or on the open track
with no crossing surface/approach pavement in place. keeping the road partially open will
surely increase the chances of this occurring.
of Motorists may mistakenly follow a truck into the work zone which is delivering materials.
o Trucks hauling materials from the site other project vehicles leaving will need to -merge into
the flow of traffic.
As with all construction sites, attention needs to be paid. to items of the work which are particularly
diulgerot.k$ and potentially fatal in nature. Workers understand the dangers associated with these: items
of work, the travelling public does not. Under parti4lroad closure, many items of work including rail
cutting/welding/grinding, rail spikiu-, rail anchoring, panel securenient, etc. must take place while the
traveling public is as close as 5' away from these items of work. Workers have enough to worry about
during these facets of the job. Add in that they are feet away from vehicles travelling at speeds that can.
injure or kill them and we now have a site where the workers and the. public are in danger. Attention
and focus. will be impaired on all accounts.
Currently, this project is on scIliedule to be complete by the project completion date of July 3111, 202 , 0,
All questions concerning this, inattershould be directed to Mr. Brent Marsh at (414) 750-6433.
Very truly yours,
Brent M r',Ii, P.E. - Project Engineer, WSOR
Cc: Roger Schaahna, Superintendent of Maintenance of Way, WSOR