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New Iberia council approves change-order process to shore up Pollard Street sewer trenches
Summary
Council expanded its agenda and approved a resolution authorizing change-order work to stabilize extensive voids uncovered during sewer replacement on Pollard Street, while warning more repairs are likely as crews move down the block.
The New Iberia City Council on Sept. 2 approved a resolution to authorize change-order work allowing contractors to expedite repairs on Pollard Street after crews uncovered large voids while replacing a sewer main.
City officials said the sewer line under Pollard Street sits about 10 feet deep. As crews excavated the pipe trench they found pockets and voids beneath the road surface that have compromised pavement and, in at least one case, caused concrete collapse when the excavation disturbed old backfill. The council expanded the agenda specifically to consider Resolution 2598, which authorizes change order number 1 for the City of New Iberia Street Improvements Project (Asphalt Overlay) and permits the mayor to execute related documents.
Mayor and public-works staff described the technical response: use of flowable, self-leveling fill (described in the meeting as "field creep") to fill voids so that subsequent overlay work will be supported. The city will use a unit-price mechanism to account for variable fill quantities; both engineering firms assigned to the project will provide onsite monitors and will agree on quantities delivered before payment. "I got a giant trench box in the street and a giant hole that I need to fill to keep the project moving," the mayor said.
Council members and staff warned the currently authorized placeholder amount — described during the discussion as $16,005.93 — may not be sufficient. Staff said the first hole required roughly 7 cubic yards of fill; crews found a larger hole later in the day estimated at about 15 cubic yards. Councilman David Merrill asked whether the city could absorb more change orders; staff said the street program has contingency funds and an existing state allocation of about $500,000 to draw on.
Councilman Dan Dawson moved to expand the agenda and made the main motion on the resolution; Councilman Ron Davis seconded. The public hearing produced no comments. Council members were told the sewer work is expected to take about 45 days, followed by roughly 45 days to complete the street restoration. Officials cautioned residents that Pollard Street will be a construction zone for several weeks and that sinkholes and voids may reappear as crews advance.
The resolution sets a procedure for documenting unit quantities and for coordinating the two engineering firms and the contractor to avoid later disputes over compaction and pay quantities. Staff said where fill "fits in a hole, there's no compaction" using flowable fill, so agreeing to delivered quantities with monitors is necessary.
Council documents provided at the meeting list the item as Resolution 2598, described as "approving change order number 1 for the fiscal year 2024 City of New Iberia Street Improvements Project, Asphalt Overlay, and authorizing the mayor to execute any and all documentation in connection therewith." The council voted to approve the expansion and the resolution during the Sept. 2 meeting.
