Committee reviews resurfacing priorities; engineers flag sections with deep base issues and a costly bridge design need

Engineering staff told the TIPS Committee on Aug. 13 that resurfacing work has revealed significant subbase failures on several streets, increasing repair complexity and cost.

What staff said: Presentations and photos showed Covington Place and other streets where, after milling the top layer, crews found soft clay and voids that required patching before paving. Staff said some roads will require targeted repairs rather than a simple overlay. For one location (edge failure near a bridge), staff reported a contractor change order to place about 40,000 cubic yards of fill and related work, quoted at roughly $17,518.29.

Process and procurement constraints: Procurement staff reminded the committee that additional streets not included in the current unit‑price solicitation must generally be procured through a separate solicitation or a contract extension using the original unit prices where allowed. Staff said they will follow procurement rules and return with options for adding segments that meet the city’s pavement condition criteria.

Miller Road bridge: The committee discussed a structurally deficient small bridge on Miller Road. Staff said an initial design estimate for a professional structural design was approximately $300,000 and that total replacement could approach $500,000 depending on scope; staff recommended seeking grant funding for design and construction because the city’s current capital budget is unlikely to cover the full cost.

Why it matters: Council members pressed staff to reexamine how pavement condition index (PCI) is averaged across subdivisions, because a single very bad segment can be overlooked when averages are calculated at the subdivision level. Staff said the most critical sections were prioritized in recent years but that more targeted segment work will be possible as funds and procurement allow.