Board authorizes United Consulting for Indiana Avenue underpass assessment, caps fee at $30,000

The Elkhart City Board of Works on Jan. 7 authorized the board president to execute a professional services agreement with United Consulting for an Indiana Avenue Underpass Assessment with a fee not to exceed $30,000.

Public works staff explained the underpass has generally sound concrete retaining walls but that several stacked-block walls at the corners near the underpass have moved, lost cap blocks and are prone to freeze-thaw deterioration. Jeff, a public works staff member, said the city has completed multiple assessments over the years and wants United Consulting to review past assessments, perform a site visit and propose several affordable, implementable solutions. “The goal for this contract is to come back to us and say, hey, here's the 3 or 4 different ideas that aren't going to cost a bunch of money that will stabilize the situation,” Jeff said. He added some options might include pouring a continuous cap, adding weep holes, regrading and coordinating with property owners, or removing a wall and regrading the slope.

Staff told the board the condition appears to be primarily aesthetic and not indicative of imminent catastrophic failure; United Consulting will verify that during its assessment. The structure date was discussed in the meeting; staff recalled the underpass work was completed around February 2004, making the walls roughly 20 to 22 years old. The board voted to authorize the agreement, and staff said it expects United to propose solutions that could be implemented later this year.