Construction update — BLUE section 10/30/24
Construction update from Road Commission:
This week
Verdeterre is performing adjustments to drainage structure elevations throughout the Blue section, focusing first on the western part of the section. ART will continue lining of drainage structures. The structure lining and adjustment work may block portions of a street, depending on where the structure is located (middle of street or in the curb); traffic will need to detour around any areas blocked by the structure work.
Mike’s Landscaping will continue sprinkler repairs and restoration work for the remainder of this week and next week. After sprinkler repairs are completed, topsoil will be placed behind the curb, followed by sod. Mike’s is responsible to water the sod for the next several weeks where residents have already winterized their sprinkler systems. See discussion below regarding sprinkler winterization.
Ajax is paving asphalt driveways today.
The contractor will be making a final pass through the Pink and Blue sections on Thursday (10/31) afternoon to review signage, barricades etc. in order to provide a safe construction zone for children to trick or treat.
Next week
Verdeterre and ART will continue structure lining and adjustments.
Mike’s will continue restoration work on areas damaged by construction.
GM & Sons will be installing concrete walkways and ADA ramps near the corners and where there are walkway ramps from the sidewalk to the street.
The second and final course of asphalt paving may begin late next week, depending upon the weather and progress on structure and restoration work. The second layer will be about 1.5 inches thick, bringing the pavement surface up to the level of the curb (usually, there will be a slight overlap of asphalt onto the curb). See discussion below on the second paving course and related street closures.
Week of November 11
Mike’s will continue restoration work.
Ajax will lay the second and final course of asphalt on remaining streets in both the western and eastern parts of the Blue section (Overhill, Hamilton, Williamsbury, Glengarry Circle West)
Roads will be closed and driveway access restricted during paving
During paving with the final layer of asphalt, the streets will be completely closed to ALL traffic and parking; streets will remain closed until the morning following paving. For example, for streets paved on Thursday, the road will remain closed overnight and will reopen on Friday morning. Residents will not have access into or out of their driveways until the street is reopened the next morning. The contractor will place the large, fence-like barricades at intersections to block traffic from entering the newly paved surface.
Just prior to laying the final asphalt, the contractor will spray “tack” over the existing first layer of pavement. The tack is a sort of glue to adhere the two layers of asphalt together. The tack is very, very sticky, like a black tar. It will stick to tires, shoes, etc. — and will be almost impossible to remove. Drivers who choose to drive on the tack, in spite of the road being closed, will likely end up with the tack on their vehicles and will be responsible for the cost of attempting to remove it.
The final layer of paving, known as the “wearing course,” will be the permanent surface we will drive on for the next 10-20 years. It is important to allow the wearing course of asphalt extra time to cool, cure, and fully and completely harden. If there is vehicle traffic on the new pavement before it is fully cured, there may be tire tracks and other marks on the surface. While these marks will be cosmetic in nature, they will also be permanent. If someone chooses to move the barricades (or exit their driveway) and drive over the surface before it is fully cured, we will have to live with the cosmetic marks on the road surface. To be very clear, the contractor will not repair any such marks. It has been a long summer of construction to build up to this point where we will have new, beautiful and smooth roads. It is up to us, as residents, to be patient, respect the barricades (even if they are just cones!), and allow the asphalt time to cure.
Parking alternatives
The contractor is planning the paving schedule to ensure that residents will have parking alternatives when their roads are closed. We will provide parking suggestions next week when the paving schedule is determined.
Packages, contractors and garbage
Once a street is closed for paving, FedEx, UPS and other delivery drivers will have to park elsewhere and walk in to make their deliveries. Similarly, sitters, cleaning people, landscapers and contractors working in resident homes will have to park outside the paving zone and walk in. Residents are encouraged to schedule contractors on a different day than the paving day. If there is paving on a Friday, Ajax will work with Priority Waste to allow them to pick up garbage placed at the curb if at all possible. However, once the tack is laid, the garbage truck cannot access the street to get the trash. Priority has been good about coming back Monday for any trash the trucks miss because of the paving.
What happens after paving?
Some restoration work may remain after the wearing course of asphalt is laid. Residents who still need sprinkler repairs or other restoration work should contact Wayne Dabrowski of the Road Commission at wdabrowski@rcoc.org.
Sprinkler winterization and repairs in the spring
Mike’s Landscaping will have completed most sprinkler repairs in the Blue section by the end of next week. As of today, sprinkler repairs on Burning Bush, Ardmoor and Hupp Cross have been completed. Residents on those streets will want to email Wayne Dabrowksi if they note sprinklers that have not yet been fixed so Mike can address them. Residents who discover issues during winterization should have their sprinkler people flag the areas that need repair, and email Wayne Dabrowski at wdabrowski@rcoc.org to be placed on the list for spring repairs. Mike’s will be back in the spring to repair any remaining issues that resulted from the road construction. Residents can choose to have their own contractors repair any such damage but will not be reimbursed for doing so.
Thank you for your patience in getting to this final phase in our Road project!