What's Up with the Bike Path?
Councilman Larry Parham is making a fuss over the bike path that was installed on the north side of the recently opened 18th street extension, saying it was never approved by Council.
Last September, Council voted 4-1 (Parham voting Nay) to award a bid for construction work at a cost of $2,222,507, to APAC Construction of Vinita, which included construction of the 18th street extension and widening of Shundi to three lanes from its intersection with 18th street extension to 9th Street.
The actual bid was higher than anticipated, so Galletly recommended eliminating the bike path, at a cost of $161,143, plus several other projects to overcome a shortfall of $513,507 in available funds. These had previously been approved as part of the budget process. They included transfer of funds from the Chopper Heights drainage project, transfer of funds from the State Park Road/Broadway project, Phase II engineering of Shundi Road, and using surplus capital funds of $104,364.
The bike path cost estimate of $161,143 was then based on a concrete base, not asphalt, and included both 18th street and the portion of Shundi being widened to 9th street.
Towards the end of construction, it was learned that actual construction costs were less than the bid amount; and council had previously approved the bike path as part of the project, but removed by Galletly to save money; and a bike path could be easily built on the 18th street portion only for $48,000 using asphalt, laid on a previously constructed foundation, using equipment and men already on scene. So Galletly made an executive decision to build the path, with the project still coming under the bid amount.
Parham says Galletly should have gotten approval from Council to build the path. But time was of the essence and the construction crews would soon be departing. And since Council had previously agreed on the bike path, there was no problem, Galletly says. It was Galletly's decision to remove it, and put it back, and still be within the bid amount.
And so Grove has a nice bike path and also a place for a motorist to pull over should he have a breakdown or flat tire. As for the roadway itself, it is built to ODOT standards and a fine addition to the city for motorists traveling to the East. A new hospital will be built nearby and growth will occur along the roadway. And when 13th street is closed for widening in the future, motorists will still have 18th street to travel on. It also affords access should 13th be closed due to an accident.
This part of the project is completed and a $75,000 contract for engineering the portion of Shundi from 9th to 3rd was recently approved by Council.
Last September, Council voted 4-1 (Parham voting Nay) to award a bid for construction work at a cost of $2,222,507, to APAC Construction of Vinita, which included construction of the 18th street extension and widening of Shundi to three lanes from its intersection with 18th street extension to 9th Street.
The actual bid was higher than anticipated, so Galletly recommended eliminating the bike path, at a cost of $161,143, plus several other projects to overcome a shortfall of $513,507 in available funds. These had previously been approved as part of the budget process. They included transfer of funds from the Chopper Heights drainage project, transfer of funds from the State Park Road/Broadway project, Phase II engineering of Shundi Road, and using surplus capital funds of $104,364.
The bike path cost estimate of $161,143 was then based on a concrete base, not asphalt, and included both 18th street and the portion of Shundi being widened to 9th street.
Towards the end of construction, it was learned that actual construction costs were less than the bid amount; and council had previously approved the bike path as part of the project, but removed by Galletly to save money; and a bike path could be easily built on the 18th street portion only for $48,000 using asphalt, laid on a previously constructed foundation, using equipment and men already on scene. So Galletly made an executive decision to build the path, with the project still coming under the bid amount.
Parham says Galletly should have gotten approval from Council to build the path. But time was of the essence and the construction crews would soon be departing. And since Council had previously agreed on the bike path, there was no problem, Galletly says. It was Galletly's decision to remove it, and put it back, and still be within the bid amount.
And so Grove has a nice bike path and also a place for a motorist to pull over should he have a breakdown or flat tire. As for the roadway itself, it is built to ODOT standards and a fine addition to the city for motorists traveling to the East. A new hospital will be built nearby and growth will occur along the roadway. And when 13th street is closed for widening in the future, motorists will still have 18th street to travel on. It also affords access should 13th be closed due to an accident.
This part of the project is completed and a $75,000 contract for engineering the portion of Shundi from 9th to 3rd was recently approved by Council.
posted by Editor | 1:06 AM
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