Talbot County approves $298,240 change order and road closure for Chapel Road culvert replacement
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Summary
The council approved a $298,240 change order and related easements and contingency funding for an emergency culvert replacement on Chapel Road; the project includes 92 pilings, riprap for scour protection, a temporary closure March 27'Aug. 11 and an application for $1,000,000 in state aid.
The Talbot County Council approved a multi-part package of actions to complete an emergency culvert replacement on Chapel Road, including a $298,240 change order to cover subsurface exploration and piling foundations, purchase of construction easements, contingency funding and a planned road closure for the work.
Assistant County Engineer Josh Elliott said the project arose after county staff discovered failing culvert headwalls that were displacing sediment and creating potholes. He told the council the change order covers additional subsurface exploration and foundation work and includes scour protection: "We need 92 pilings 40 feet long" and the change order includes Class 3 riprap for scour protection at a cost of about $48,000, he said.
Council members voted to approve the change order. They also approved a permanent construction easement from John Higgins and Susan Higgins at 9541 Chapel Road for $3,600 and a temporary easement from the Hutchison Archer family at 9678 Klondike Road for $1,000 to allow expanded work areas.
To reduce the risk of construction delays the council authorized using $170,000 in project contingency funds to cover mapping and evaluation and other unforeseen additions. Public Works staff said the planned road closure is necessary to complete the work in a timely manner: the closure on the Wootenock segment of Chapel Road is scheduled from March 27 through Aug. 11, with an official detour routing down Gannon Road to Matthewstown Road to Black Dahl Alley and an alternate via Klondike Road to Cordova Road back to Black Dahl Alley.
The council also authorized staff to apply for up to $1,000,000 in state aid to help finance the project. Elliott said contractors provided schedule estimates that target reopening by Aug. 11 but cautioned that contractors often include schedule float and that the project team will try to complete the work sooner if possible.
The decisions at the meeting combined formal approvals (change order, easements, contingency allocation and state aid application) with staff direction to proceed with the closure and construction schedule; all items were approved by roll call during the council meeting.