Engineer details $25,000 test-pit change order needed before Patriot's Way bridge guardrail installation

The borough engineer told the mayor and council that subcontractors refused to install sections of guardrail on the Patriot's Way bridge for fear of striking underground utilities and facing liability, and the borough has added a $25,000 change order to perform test pits that will precisely locate utilities.

The engineer, identified in the meeting as Mr. Yekimik, said a new subcontractor, Jay Fletcher Kramer, agreed to perform the work but required utility test pits through the prime contractor, Conchus. "I believe it's $25,000 for test pits to determine precisely where the utilities are so that the guide rail can be installed safely and without any damage to any utilities," he said.

Council members pressed the engineer on timing and logistics. Yekimik said that while actual guardrail installation would likely take one to two days, specialized "weldments" for a particular location require a long lead time to fabricate. He said the borough has a plan B to open the bridge safely while those components are made. The engineer also noted that although utility locations appear on drawings, state law requires physical mark-outs before digging because drawings are not always fully accurate.

The mayor asked staff to keep the council and the public informed about scheduling; the engineer said project lead Kevin Boswell is coordinating daily with contractors and will provide schedule commitments to the mayor to share with the council.

The change order for the test pits appears on the meeting agenda as a resolution tied to the Patriot's Way bridge work.