March Update!
Baldwin Street Extension:
Consumers Energy is planning to start their relocation work within the next few weeks. There are also some real estate issues (business sign relocation) that need to be coordinated with Consumers Energy’s work as well as coordination with AT & T concerning joint use of an AT & T easement to place a guy anchor.
Telephone, gas and electric have pending permit applications for advance relocation work submitted to MDOT. These permits will be issued by MDOT the week of 2/12/07 which gives MDOT’s approval of the work as it relates to compatibility with the MDOT project. The Ottawa Co. Road Comm. has jurisdiction over permit construction activity within the Baldwin St. Right of Way and it will be necessary for each utility to meet their stipulations and also to apply for and obtain an OCRC permit.
The proposed water main will be constructed as part of the MDOT project from Cottonwood Dr. to the Water Treatment Plant and will be located beneath the proposed sidewalk on the north side.
The gas main is being relocated to the north side along the water main. From Cottonwood Dr. to Main St., AT & T telephone has buried lines presently there as well as Consumers Energy poles which are at the same location where MichCon wants to relocate their gas main
From Cottonwood Dr. to Main St., before the gas main can relocate, AT & T will have to complete their relocation work so their line can be deactivated.
There will be some crossings between the gas main and the water main that will have to be coordinated. These should be identified prior to construction of gas main and adjustments made accordingly. MichCon should work with MDOT Construction.
AT & T has already started on other local streets in preparation to re-circuit the area. They won’t be able to deactivate the north side of Baldwin St. until the end of April, 2007. They will need to place a large splice closure on the north side opposite of Main St.
One possibility is that MichCon waits until after the water main is constructed then install their 8” gas main under a coordination clause. The coordination clause would require the MDOT Contractor to account in their progress schedule, reasonable time for MichCon to complete their work.
MDOT Contractor likely to start 1st. or 2nd week of June, 2007, and work on east end near treatment plant and between Cottonwood Dr. & Main St. There are some advantages for MichCon coordinating with MDOT Contractor. Work could be done under the MDOT Contractor’s traffic control. Driveways and sidewalks may not require as extensive temporary repair. Survey Staking could be done under the construction contract. May avoid conflicts that may occur with an advance placement.
For MichCon to do the work in advance, they should bury the gas main 5’ deep to avoid trench interference with water main that will be 4’ center to center from gas main. They could start this work in March. They would work on the east portion first then wait for AT & T to deactivate their lines before working on the west portion. They would repair drives and sidewalks with Concrete or cold patch and possibly tunnel some drives. MichCon prefers to do advance relocation. It was recommended that DTE/MichCon perform all the relocation at one time beginning the first of May. This will elimate two mobilizations, assist with the survey staking required, and still meet the timeline. DTE/MichCon would start at the west end and work east.
MichCon will need ROW stakes and grade stakes and should request this through MDOT. They should do all work, (east and west portion) in about 1 month (May, 2007) excluding services which would take an estimated 2 additional weeks. A coordination clause will be written indicating that MichCon would concentrate on completing portions from Main St. to Cottonwood Dr. first including services and that they will be continuing work on east portion while MDOT project is under construction.
There will be little tolerance between the relocated gas main and relocated poles. In this case, MichCon will bend slightly to get around relocated poles. Poles will require supporting while MichCon places their gas main. MichCon will work with Consumers Energy to support the poles. A coordination clause will be put in the MDOT project requiring the joint responsibility of Consumer Energy and the MDOT Contractor to support the poles during water main construction.
Near Main St. and Baldwin St., AT & T will abandon their pedestal opposite of Speedway and place one off the back side of the sidewalk at ROW line. The pedestal in front of the car wash will be removed.
The original OCRC criteria was that poles shall be 2’ off of the front sidewalk. Some poles near Main St. & Baldwin St. are proposed to be at the back side of the sidewalk. This puts them too close to sidewalk edge. Consumer Energy will put these poles at ROW line which should provide a 1’ buffer to sidewalks edge.
If Consumers Energy put the poles between the back of the curb and sidewalk the new poles near the car wash would entail putting the advanced poles temporarily in the middle of the existing sidewalk. Consumers will work with OCRC on temporary sidewalk diversion around poles.
MDOT will include copies of color coded utility relocation plan overlay with each utility permit and also will send same to OCRC, City of Grandville and Georgetown Twp. If you would like to see these copies please let me know and I’d be happy to show them to you, there are too many pages to copies and attach to this update.
AT & T has a crossing of Baldwin St. as part of their relocation plan and intends to be 4’ deep. MDOT design consultants will check for grade conflicts with proposed storm sewer and subbase.
There are plans for a 24” sanitary sewer to be extended across Mill St. This work has not been designed yet but will be made part of the MDOT project. Utilities were made aware of this and advised not to place pedestals or above ground appurtenances in this area. Any active lines are to be supported across the open trench which could get fairly wide.
Consumers Energy has a few service poles planned for the south side with the majority of relocated poles along the north side. Some poles west of Mill St, originally identified as needing to be relocated, should be OK after reviewing staking of proposed roadway features in the field.
A business sign needs to be relocated before Consumers can complete their work. MDOT Construction has had discussions with MDOT Real Estate and will follow up with them to coordinate this. Consumers indicated they could set poles and leave old poles in until the sign is removed. Regarding a guy anchor that is proposed in the driveway/parking area. Consumers can extend their guy anchor knuckle above existing ground to accommodate proposed filling for driveway reconfiguration.
Regarding service poles, Consumers will need to place guy anchors on private property. Consumers will handle getting the verbal OK from this property owner.
Consumers has an existing buried 7200 volt primary line that crosses Baldwin St., that serves some apartments. It is estimated to be 3’ deep. Consumers will pot hole field verify its location and contact MDOT for their review.