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Engineer warns poor soils will raise cost for Woodpark Court repairs; council conditionally approves work
Summary
A&Z Engineering told the council that poor subgrade soils on Woodpark Court require undercutting and thicker base material; the council voted to proceed with the higher‑cost option provided budget approval, and staff will finalize change orders once funding is clarified.
Landon of A&Z Engineering told the Woodburn Town Council that inspections on the CCMG resurfacing work for Woodpark Court, Burnwood Court and Burnwood Place found poor soils and 4–6‑inch rutting under removed concrete, a condition that will require undercutting and added aggregate to support new pavement.
"We found poor soils out there — we're getting between 4 and 6‑inch ruts along the entire corridor," Landon said, urging an increase in aggregate depth and, in some worst‑case areas, deeper undercutting before paving.
The engineering firm presented four remediation scenarios: varying asphalt thicknesses (proposed design 8 inches of asphalt over 6 inches of stone aggregate; alternatives include 6 inches of asphalt with additional aggregate and geogrid, and deeper undercuts of up to 12 inches). Landon said a 6‑inch aggregate minimum would be the prudent baseline to avoid premature failures and to allow future mill‑and‑overlay repairs.
Council members reviewed bid figures and contingency: the engineer's estimate had been about $1.2 million and the low bid came in at roughly $760,000. Staff cautioned that a full‑area worst‑case undercut could add to project costs; Landon estimated a representative worst‑case additional figure of about $40,000 for the area if all segments require the deepest remediation.
Faced with the unexpected soils and the need to keep the construction moving, one council member moved — and another seconded — to proceed with the higher‑capacity repair option provided the town's budgeting can absorb the additional cost. The motion passed on a voice vote; staff said they would either issue a change order or appropriate the needed funds once the council confirms the budget line items.
Wayne Asphalt is the contractor performing construction. Staff told the council they intend to avoid tearing up the entire roadway before locates and final design adjustments are confirmed, and that the town will seek to balance aggregate and asphalt to manage long‑term pavement life and immediate budget constraints.
Next steps: staff will confirm how much of the project requires undercutting, provide updated cost figures and identify funding (including whether trail funds or remaining pay items can be repurposed) before processing a formal change order or appropriation.
