Road Construction Update — Blue Section 7/31/24
Road Construction Update from RCOC
This Week
Verdeterre began curb and driveway approach removal on the south side of Burning Bush this week, earlier than expected. They will complete curb and driveway approach removal on Burning Bush, then move on to the opposite sides of Ardmoor and Hupp Cross.
Mike’s Landscaping will be out flagging sprinklers and making repairs.
MRM will continue underdrain installation in prepared areas on Overhill, Glengarry Circle West, Williamsbury, and Hamilton.
The tree removal contractor is removing 5 trees (4 on Glengarry Circle West, one on Ardmoor).
Next week
Verdeterre will continue curb and driveway approach removal, moving to Wooddale Ct, Wooddale Rd, Halfmoon Rd, Tuckahoe Rd, and Roland Dr, on the side of each street opposite where the new curbs have been laid.
MRM will follow behind Verdeterre’s sections of removed curb with underdrain installation.
Mike’s Landscaping will be ahead of Verdeterre flagging sprinkler heads and making repairs.
When driveway approaches are removed, they will be replaced with temporary stone approaches to maintain driveway access. There can be a delay, usually not more than an hour or so, before the temporary stone is in place. Cars parked on the side of the street where curb/driveway approach removal is taking place will delay the work — please ensure all contractors and service providers park in your driveway or on another street if curb/driveway removal is taking place on your street.
The contractor will be working on one side of each street, leaving the other open for traffic. There can be temporary delays or detours during some construction activity and while equipment needs to block the road for shorter periods of time.
Concrete curbs and driveway approaches already laid should be nearing the end of their curing time. Once the concrete has cured, the contractor will remove the barricades, indicating the concrete is ready for vehicle traffic.
Looking ahead . . . curbing and driveway access limitations
Once underdrain installation is complete on Overhill, Glengarry Circle West, N. Williamsbury and Hamilton, these streets will be ready for curbing, which could start as early as the week of August 12.
Step one in the curbing process will be removal of the temporary driveway approaches, followed by placement of the concrete curbs. Once the curbs are placed, concrete driveway approaches will be poured, usually the following day. The concrete needs to cure before ANY vehicle traffic is allowed on it.
Before the driveway approaches are removed to start the curbing process, residents will need to move vehicles out of garages/driveways and park them elsewhere, to avoid being blocked in during the two weeks of curbing process and curing time. Residents will be notified by the contractor about 48 hours in advance of the start of the curbing process with a notice posted on the front door. If you receive a notice, you will need to move your car out of your driveway/garage and park it elsewhere (on a different street, see discussion below) prior to 7 am on the date listed on the notice. The contractor will also knock on front doors early in the morning (usually around 7 am) on the day the driveway approach is being removed, to remind residents to move cars and avoid being blocked in the garage/driveway for the two weeks. Residents who are out of town should make arrangements with neighbors to ensure someone can move vehicles to which they will need access during the two-week period.
Once the concrete curb and driveway approaches have been installed, they will need to cure before they can be driven on. The contractor will block off driveways with yellow caution tape until the concrete reaches the proper strength. Please do not move the caution tape. When the caution tape has been removed by the contractor, the curb and driveway will be safe for vehicles to drive on. The total time during which residents will not have access to their driveways for the curbing process will be about two weeks. The two-week clock starts when the driveway approach is removed.
Residents will need to ensure that lawn crews and other contractors fully understand that the concrete cannot be driven on. We have had situations where a lawn crew moved barriers and traversed freshly laid concrete. Unfortunately, in these situations, the Road Commission and their contractors are not responsible for fixing the damage.
Parking and driving in construction areas
We are finding that the streets are becoming very congested when there is active construction, with equipment, materials and workers on one side of the street and the other open for traffic. For this reason, we are asking residents to avoid parking on any street where construction work is active. Please communicate this to all contractors and service providers that may be coming to your home. Once the workers leave for the evening, street parking is fine until 7 am the next morning. Vehicles parked overnight on the street should be moved before 7 am. Additionally, while there is one lane open for traffic on streets under construction, if at all possible, please try to avoid driving on the streets where there is active construction activity, to help reduce congestion and keep everyone safe.
A few reminders
Please travel at slow speeds as you approach construction workers and equipment. When approaching the active construction area, make eye contact with the individual construction worker or the equipment operator before traveling past them. Equipment operators have many blind spots and may not see you unless eye contact is made.
In case of an emergency, all construction staff will clear the road as quickly as possible to allow emergency services through.
The contractor will be working from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM, Monday through Saturday.
Soil erosion controls (the black fabric covers on manholes and drains) are to remain in place until the project is completed. The soil erosion controls will slow drainage and protect the drainage system from debris and/or sediment entering the system at all structure areas. Stormwater will drain more slowly in areas where soil erosion controls have been installed. This means the erosion controls are doing their job in keeping debris and sediment out of our sewers.
For questions or issues during construction, please contact Wayne Dabrowski at 248-858-4862 or wdabrowski@rcoc.org.
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this project.