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City requests $70,000 add‑on for Main Street overlay after pavement grind uncovers concrete failures
Summary
Public Works staff told the council May 27 that grinding three inches of asphalt on Main Street exposed subgrade pockets and extensive concrete panel cracking; staff requested $70,000 from REIT 126 for an asphalt pre‑leveling course and a geosynthetic reinforcing mat. Council approved the expenditure unanimously.
Public Works staff briefed the Edmonds City Council on May 27 about unexpected pavement issues uncovered during the Main Street overlay project between Sixth and Eighth avenues and asked the council to approve a $70,000 additional management reserve to complete the overlay work.
The contractor removed the top 3 inches of asphalt in preparation for an overlay and exposed two problems, Public Works staff said: isolated pockets with inadequate subgrade and widespread cracking and separation in the underlying concrete roadway. The subgrade pockets were repaired by the contractor and completed before the council meeting; staff recommended an additional asphalt pre‑leveling course of roughly 1 inch followed by a geosynthetic reinforcing mat before the final wearing course to address the cracked concrete.
City staff requested $70,000 from REIT 126 to fund the additional materials and construction management; the staff presentation estimated the total project budget after prior adjustments at about $1.95 million, funded by a mix of a $675,000 federal grant, allocations from REIT 125/126, a TIV grant and stormwater funds for the drainage portion. Staff described the $70,000 request as a conservative contingency; final quantities and costs will be reconciled after work completes.
“Requesting an additional management reserve of $70,000 from the REIT 126 fund,” the presenter told council, citing the geosynthetic mat and pre‑leveling course as the recommended corrective work. The contractor was scheduled to begin the additional work immediately; staff said favorable weather made Thursday/Friday the likely completion window.
Council member Payne made the motion to authorize the $70,000 transfer into project management reserve; council approved the motion unanimously. Council members asked about expected longevity of the repair; staff said an overlay life of about 20 years is common and that obtaining 30 years would be a favorable outcome given historic performance on the corridor.
Staff emphasized that no general fund dollars are proposed for the add‑on and that the underlying subsurface issues are visible only after grinding off the asphalt, meaning the defects were not reasonably identifiable until the contractor began work.
The council’s vote authorizes staff to proceed with the pre‑leveling and reinforcing mat work and to reconcile final costs after the contractor completes the overlay.
