Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, June 06, 2017
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
UPDATE ON PROJECT NO. 919 [FEDERAL NO. HPLUL-5403(017)]: WILMINGTON AVENUE INTERCHANGE MODIFICATION AT THE I-405 FREEWAY (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
On April 18, 2017, the City Council authorized and appropriated additional funds to complete Project No. 919: Wilmington Avenue Interchange Modification at the I-405 Freeway. During the meeting, City Council requested that staff provide a project status update every 90 days, until the project is complete (Exhibit No. 1). The first 90 day project status update would be in July 2017, but on May 16, 2017, the City Council requested that staff provide an update on the project at the following City Council meeting due to a concern raised by the public.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
RECEIVE and FILE.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the City Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
The Carson Successor Agency and the City Council are undertaking Project No. 919: Wilmington Avenue Interchange Modification at the I-405 Freeway. Wilmington Avenue essentially runs north/south and the I-405 freeway runs on a due east/west alignment at this location. Wilmington Avenue is an undercrossing and generally provides two lanes in each direction in the project vicinity. The southerly quadrant of the interchange is a standard diamond configuration. The northerly quadrant has a loop on-ramp and an off-ramp. A railroad track crosses 223rd Street and Wilmington Avenue south of the interchange, runs parallel to the I-405.
The project involves various improvements which are constructed over 5 stages, as follows:
|
Construction Stage |
Summary of Improvements |
|
Stage 1 |
Construction of new northbound on-ramp over the Dominguez Channel (bridge). New Retaining Walls and Sound Walls. Widening of the existing southbound on-ramp. |
|
Stage 2 |
Removal of medians along Wilmington Avenue and 223rd Street. |
|
Stage 3 |
Widening along the east side of Wilmington Avenue and a portion of the south side of 223rd Street. Expansion of the existing bridge at southeast corner of Wilmington Avenue and 223rd Street. Construction of Retaining Wall at southbound on-ramp. |
|
Stage 4 |
Widening along the west side of Wilmington Avenue and a portion of the north side of 223rd Street. Expansion of the existing bridge at the northwest corner of Wilmington Avenue and 223rd Street. |
|
Stage 5 |
Reconstruction of raised medians along Wilmington Avenue and along 223rd Street. |
At this time, Stage 1 is 98% complete and Stage 2 is 100% completed. On April 18, 2017, the City Council authorized and appropriated additional funds to complete the balance of Project No. 919: Wilmington Avenue Interchange Modification at the I-405 Freeway. During the meeting, City Council requested that staff provide a project status update every 90 days, until the project is complete. The first 90 day project status update would be in July 2017, but on May 16, 2017, the City Council requested that staff provide an update on the project sooner than the 90 day period, due to a concern raised by the public.
Soon after the April 18, 2017 City Council meeting, staff scheduled an “All-Hands” meeting with representatives from the project designer, contractor, construction management firm, and the City’s project manager (Team). The meeting focused on various strategies to complete the project sooner than February 2018, which was based on the Critical Path Method schedule (CPM); a scheduling software. The Team assessed the remaining work along the East side of Wilmington Avenue (Stage 3) and discussed the actions needed to complete the remaining work in a more timely manner.
The Team also reviewed the project plans for the upcoming work along the west side of Wilmington Avenue (Stage 4). It was discussed that some water system equipment (fire hydrants and water meters) of California Water Services (CWS) needs to be relocated due to the street widening along the west side of Wilmington Avenue. The team also met with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) representatives to coordinate the work involved in transitioning from Stage 3 to Stage 4. UPRR needs to relocate and install a few railroad warning signals based on the Stage 4 traffic handling plans. Though both CWS and UPRR have been made aware of their scope of work, the Team re-initiated communications with them as a reminder of the upcoming work which could potentially avoid delays during Stage 4. Staff has also had discussions with the communication company (Wilcon) that will be placing electrical conduits within the work zone of Stage 4. Staff has strongly advised the Wilcon’s representative to obtain all necessary permits from Caltrans and UPRR, and to notify any affected utility owners of their proposed work, prior to the start of construction along the west side of Wilmington Avenue. CWS, UPRR, Wilcon, and all other affected agencies are waiting for the City’s contractor to notify them of their start, which is anticipated to be disseminated in the next few weeks.
The completion of the new northbound on-ramp has been postponed, in conjunction with the work in Stage 4. The on-ramp’s connection to Wilmington Avenue could not be completed due to an interfering wooden pole owned by Southern California Edison. However, in recent weeks, the contractor had graded the areas along the retaining wall, the flood control access road, and the area adjacent to Wilmington Avenue. Soon thereafter, drainage systems were adjusted to grade; and base materials and curb and gutter were poured. The remaining work, which is the on-ramp’s connection to the street at Wilmington Avenue, will be completed as part of the work to be done in Stage 4 (Exhibit No. 2).
Since the April 18, 2017 City Council meeting, the contractor’s paving operation for the southeast area of Wilmington Avenue and 223rd Street was postponed, due to interfering pipelines owned by Shell and Tesoro. Since that City Council meeting, a modified street pavement design, that provides a reinforced protection over the pipelines, has been approved by representatives of Shell and Tesoro. Furthermore, all of the necessary protective pipeline coating has been applied; which allowed the contractor to place the base layer of the pavement. The contractor is currently coordinating the schedule of the paving crew, to mobilize and place the final pavement along said southeast area. Despite the delay caused by the interfering pipelines, the contractor has poured curbs and gutters along 223rd Street and along Wilmington Avenue, abutting the said southeast area. An underground vault and an electrical cabinet, owned and operated by Los Angeles County Sanitation District, were adjusted and relocated with respect to the new curbs and gutters. (Exhibit No. 3).
Most recently, the contractor completed the paving of the area adjacent to the southbound on-ramp of the I-405 freeway. Closure of the I-405 southbound Wilmington Avenue on-ramp was necessary in order to efficiently conduct and complete the paving operation. Notices to nearby residents and businesses were sent weeks prior to the closure. Electronic message boards and several “Alternate Route” signs were placed at strategic locations along the routes to the on-ramp, to also inform the motorists of the anticipated traffic congestion due to the four-day closure that was scheduled for May 17, 2017 through May 21, 2017.
The closure was a success. The notices, electronic message boards, and alternate route signs proved to be effective; as observed by the significant decrease of traffic volume going through the affected areas during the closure. Aside from the effectiveness of the notifications, during the closure, the contractor was able to complete the connection of the drainage system across the on-ramp, and also place electrical conduits for electrical meters that will serve various traffic signal equipment. Traffic lanes along Wilmington Avenue and 223rd Street, along with the on-ramp, were re-opened 48-hours prior to the anticipated finish date of May 21, 2017(Exhibit No. 4).
The current CPM indicates that the project will be completed by February 2018. However, the CPM does not account for recent field accomplishments, and assertive efforts by the Team, to complete the project sooner than the anticipated schedule. As part of the next City-Council-requested quarterly-project-status, staff will provide City Council with an updated project schedule.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
None at this time.
VI. EXHIBITS
1. Minutes; April 18, 2017; Item No. 25. (pgs. 5-6)
2. Construction Photos at New Northbound On-Ramp. (pg. 7)
3. Construction Photos at Southeast Area of Wilmington Avenue and 223rd Street. (pg. 8)
4. Construction Photos During Closure of Southbound On-Ramp at Wilmington Avenue. (pg. 9)
Prepared by: Raymond Velasco, P.E., Senior Civil Engineer