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As the project manager for a $1.3 million overhaul of Argonne Road in Millwood, Matt Gillis has a full agenda these days.
On Monday, Gillis – who represents the design team of Welch/Comer Engineers – spoke before the Millwood City Council, providing an update on the progress of resurfacing work along the city’s main thoroughfare that began on May 4. Gillis also brought news that the Transportation Improvement Board, a state-run agency that distributes funding for local transportation projects, had granted the city $26,000 for additional improvements to sidewalks along Argonne.
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Work began May 4 on a $1.3 million project to refurbish Argonne Road in Millwood. On Monday, the Millwood City Council fielded concerns from business owners and residents about the lagging construction pace as well as the elimination of several curb extensions, or bulb-outs, designed to slow down traffic and improve conditions for pedestrians.
Photo by: Craig Howard |
Then the road began to turn.
Bobbie Beese, who owns property on Argonne, raised concerns that contractors were not adhering to a detailed traffic study that formed the groundwork for the project over a year ago. Residents, property owners, city staff and local merchants contributed to the study with a cost to the city of $67,000.
“By the time we got through with the study, I was sure the engineers understood how Millwood traffic worked on Argonne Road,” Beese said.
“Now it seems like some of those decisions are being undermined.”
Beese pointed to the elimination of three bulb-outs – or curb extensions – originally slated for a series of corners along Argonne. The additions are meant to slow down traffic and improve conditions for pedestrians – two of the main objectives in the Argonne traffic study.
Beese also said a curb in front of her building was built out since construction began, making wheelchair access difficult.
“I know things changes in the field,” Beese said. “But it seems like these decisions are just kind of being made at the last-minute without deference to our study.”
Greg Mott, proprietor of The Corner Door shop on Argonne, also expressed frustration that the bulb-outs in the original design had been scrapped.
“We were told originally that the project would include these,” Mott said.
Gillis responded by providing an overview of the base bid which specified that each corner would include ramps that complied with standards outlined in the Americans with Disabilities Act – but no bulb-outs.
Adding sidewalks along certain areas of Argonne – such as the portions between Euclid and Dalton – would run the city another $3,600, Gillis said. Paving the entire stretch of the street with sidewalk, including the west side of the road from Liberty to Bridgeport, would cost $10,000 more.
While three bulb-outs still remain as part of the renovation, Gillis said the remaining curb extensions fell out of the project because they ranked further down on a priority list compiled by Welch/Comer.
“Our first priority is to get the corners done,” Gillis said. “The second priority is the sidewalks and the third is to revitalize the downtown area.”
Council Member Kevin Freeman echoed the concerns of residents, saying “the level of effort in the traffic study is not being honored.”
“The residents made it clear that there were elements along this corridor that are important to this town,” Freeman said.
Including the bulb-outs would mean working through the list of alternates listed on the original bid, Gillis said. The extensions are toward the end of the list, behind a proposed sidewalk in front of the Inland Empire Paper Co., at a cost of $64,000.
“I’m not sure why a sidewalk on the east side of Argonne ranked ahead of bulb-outs,” Freeman said.
Sharene Young, a representative of IEP who was at the June 1 meeting, said there was a possibility that the bulb-outs could move up on the construction schedule since an easement had not yet been granted by the paper company.
“We’re trying to figure out how to do this without spending $64,000,” said Council Member Richard Schoen.
Other residents asked why the work was progressing at such a sluggish pace. Gillis noted that Red Diamond Construction, the contractor on the project, had only been on the job for 10 of a possible 18 working days.
“I know everyone is concerned about the lack of work,” Gillis said. “It’s unacceptable from the city’s standpoint.”
Red Diamond has 70 days to finish the project, Gillis added. The city can charge the company up to $1,800 a day for work that goes beyond that point.
Millwood Mayor Dan Mork said businesses along Argonne have felt the impact of the construction work over the past month. Mork referred to one company that sent him copies of receipts from the month leading up to the project as well as record from May.
“It was quite a difference,” Mork said. “It’s having a big effect on business.”
The City Council voted to hold off awarding the bid for the additional sidewalk work until it could decide on a resolution over the issue regarding curb extensions. A special meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, following presstime.
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By
Craig Howard
