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PUC approves $15.3M contingency increase for North Shore force-main project, opts for jacking/microtunneling
Summary
The Commission approved up to $15,324,000 in contingency for contract WW483RR to change construction methodology (jacking/microtunneling) around Drum and Spear Streets to avoid PG&E and heavy underground conflicts, increasing the contract to $32,360,880 and adding 466 days to the schedule.
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 27 approved an increase of up to $15,324,000 to the construction contract WW483RR to fund a change in construction method for a redundant North Shore force-main alignment, bringing the total contract to $32,360,880 and extending the schedule by 466 days.
Emilio Cruz, Assistant General Manager for Infrastructure, said the North Shore force main runs under the Embarcadero and that during construction crews found unexpected conflicts with PG&E and other historic utilities. Staff recommended switching to a jacking/microtunneling approach in the Drum and Spear Street alignment to avoid conflicts and to minimize surface disruption in heavily trafficked pedestrian and commercial areas. "Jacking is significantly more expensive, which is what reflects the cost increase here, but also offers us two benefits: avoiding the PG&E and other infrastructure and significantly minimizing the impact of the construction through that very crowded area," Cruz said.
Commissioner questions focused on cost breakdowns for PG&E and MTA reimbursables and the portion attributed to the tunneling methodology. Cruz said the PG&E reimbursable portion is roughly $2.1 million and described substantial cost for microtunneling as the prime driver of the remaining increase, with MTA rerouting costs for overhead-line work also contributing.
Public commenter David Popel urged clearer environmental-review documentation and asked staff to explain relationships between nearby projects; staff said the WW483RR redundancy is driven by repeated failures of the North Shore main and is independent of the 8 Washington development.
The motion to approve the mitigated negative declaration and the contract contingency increase was moved, seconded and carried.
Next steps: staff will redesign contract documents and execute necessary MOUs with MTA and PG&E; PG&E has agreed to reimburse certain redesign and construction costs per staff testimony.
