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Home My WebLink About30. 16-270MAY 24, 2016 16 -270 ORDINANCE FIRST READING (CARRIED PURPOSE INITIATED BY _LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN ) APPROVE CLOSURE OF OSHKOSH AVENUE AT NORTH WESTFIELD STREET DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH AUTHORIZING A VARIANCE TO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 Oshkosh Avenue; and WHEREAS, PTS Contractors, Inc. has requested a variance from the terms of section 25 -23 for the purposes of providing a safe work area and reducing congestion during construction of sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, concrete paving and traffic signal installation during for a two week period during the summer 2016 construction season; and WHEREAS, the timing of the closure is dependent upon progress of the work, weather and other factors, making determination of the specific dates for closure difficult. NOW, THEREFORE the Common Council of the City of Oshkosh do ordain as follows: SECTION 1. that PTS Contractors, Inc. is hereby granted a variance from the provisions of Section 25 -23 of the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code for purposes of providing a safe work area and reducing congestion during construction of sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, concrete paving and traffic signal installation for a two week period during the summer 2016 construction season subject to the following conditions: A. Oshkosh Avenue shall not be closed during the period that the annual EAA Airventure convention is being held within the City. B. PTS Contractors, Inc. shall provide at least four (4) weeks notice to the Department of Public Works prior to the anticipated closure of Oshkosh Avenue. C. PTS Contractors shall provide all necessary and required signage for the closure of the street and detour of traffic. D. PTS Contractors, Inc. shall work with the Department of Public Works to minimize the effects of the street closure upon emergency services and the public. MAY 24, 2016 16 -270 ORDINANCE CONT'D. E. The Director of Public Works is hereby authorized to approve such closure, approve such closure with conditions or 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 #16 -XXX (A GENERAL ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OSHKOSH TO APPROVE CLOSURE OF OSHKOSH AVENUE AT NORTH WESTFIELD STREET on June 14, 2016. The ordinance allows the temporary closure of Oshkosh Avenue at North Westfield Street, for purposes of providing a safe work area and reducing congestion during construction of sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, concrete paving and traffic signal installation for a two week period during the summer 2016 construction season. 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. (0 7HKOf H ON THE WATER MEMORANDUM TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council FROM: Steven M. Gohde, Assistant Director of Public Works 0!7 DATE: May 19, 2016 RE: Approve Oshkosh Avenue Closure BACKGROUND The City awarded contract 16 -05 to PTS Contractors Inc. The project includes extending deeper sanitary sewer, water main replacement, storm sewer upgrades, pedestrian crossing improvements, new traffic signals and concrete pavement replacement at the intersection of Westfield St. and Oshkosh Ave. PTS requested staff review an option to close Oshkosh Ave to complete the work. Staff met with the contractor onsite to review the excavation limits needed to complete the work and the impacts to traffic if left open to traffic or closed. The Contract provides Oshkosh Ave remain open to traffic. It was determined only one traffic lane, with flaggers restricting traffic movements, can be maintained on Oshkosh Ave to ensure worker and driver safety during the sanitary sewer and storm sewer work. PTS estimates the traffic would be restricted to one lane for 7 -10 days. Thereafter, the Oshkosh Ave. would have one lane open in each direction with occasional restrictions until the intersection work is completed. Under the open to traffic conditions, the intersection construction is anticipated to last 4 weeks. PTS has proposed to close Oshkosh Ave for up to 2 weeks to all vehicle traffic. At the conclusion of the 2 weeks the intersection will have a minimum of 3 lanes open at all times. A detour route will be posted using Sawyer St, Witzel Ave and Koeller St. The closure is anticipated in August. Advanced warning signs will be placed 7 days prior to the closure to warn drivers. Please see the attached letter and detour map from PTS for additional information. ANALYSIS Based on the traffic volumes and close proximity of the excavation limits to traffic there is a high likelihood of substantial traffic backups if only one lane is available for traffic. Additionally, worker safety and driver safety will be compromised during the construction work if done under traffic. The proposed detour route uses roadways identified as truck routes. FISCAL IMPACT There are no changes to the contract costs as a result of the closure. RECOMMENDATIONS I recommend approval of the request to close Oshkosh Ave for 2 weeks. Approve �eL�. Mark A. Rohloff City Manager SMG /tlt I:\Engmeering\2016 CONTRACTS \16 -05 Conc Paving & Util\ Project_ Information \Correspondence \Letters \16 -05 Memo for STH 21 Closure.docx PTSCONTRACTORS,INC. 4075 EATON ROAD, GREEN BAY, WI 54311 -9340 (920) 468 -5217 OFFICE (920) 468 -4087 FAX May 16, 2016 Mr. Pete Gulbronson, P.E. City of Oshkosh 215 Church Avenue Oshkosh, WI 54903 Subject: Contract 16 -05 Request to Close Oshkosh Avenue Dear Mr. Gulbronson: PTS Contractors, Inc. is requesting to close Oshkosh Ave. for a number of reasons. The ultimate reason is the safety of PTS employees and the general public. With the volume of work that needs to be done in that intersection and the fact that the sanitary sewer is around 20 feet deep right down the middle, safety is a major concern. If required to maintain traffic when doing the contracted work in the intersection the intersection could be impacted up to 4 weeks. Of that 4 week 7 to 10 days the traffic will be flagged with only one lane open all day during work hours. During peak hours this means traffic could be backed up to the west past the roundabouts and possibly onto Hwy 41. Traffic could further be backed up to the east to the Fox River. Depending on when the bridge is raised this could cause further delays and congestion. PTS Contractors is proposing to close the interaction for a maxim of 2 weeks to complete all utility and paving work to a point of 2 west bound lanes and I east bound lane open. Our goal would be to have all 4 lanes open in that time. PTS will work long 12 hours days and Saturdays to get the road open during this proposed closure. During this 2 week closure this further allows the City of Oshkosh's crews to perform their work in the intersection. The removal of the existing signals and installation of the new signals can further be done safely outside of traffic. PTS will assist the city crews to expedite their work. We cannot emphasize enough the safety concerns we have regarding constructing this intersection under traffic. PTS has further prepared a proposed detour route that is attached. Please call me anytime at 920- 621 -1565 with any questions. Regards, l Mark Schleis, Vice President PTS Contractors, Inc. Cc: Mr. Steve Gohde, Assistant Public Director, City of Oshkosh