148 Chester Court              Bowling Green, KY  42103                                         Phone - (270) 843-2247           Fax - (270) 843-9323
  750 West 15th Street         Hopkinsville, KY 42240                                              Phone - (270) 885-9893           Fax - (270) 885-9869

 

14th Avenue Realignment and Construction Management - Western Kentucky University:

The City of Bowling Green hired an independent consulting engineer to complete a traffic study of downtown Bowling Green. The study concluded that better circulation was needed in the southwestern portion of downtown Bowling Green near the campus of Western Kentucky University. After several public meetings and discussions, the Public Works Department recommended that 14th Avenue be realigned to promote better circulation and to improve safety in this portion of Bowling Green. DDS ENGINEERING, PLLC was selected to perform the design plans for the proposed realignment. As the plans were nearing completion, Western Kentucky University began the design of new utilities for a development along the proposed route of 14th Avenue. DDS ENGINEERING, PLLC was also selected to do the design of the new and relocated utilities along the realigned 14th Avenue and to coordinate the two designs so that all construction work could be done simultaneously and minimize the possibility of future utility work damaging the new roadway surface.

DDS ENGINEERING, PLLC performed the legal research, field reconnaissance, boundary survey, topographic survey and office calculations to support the preparation of a boundary survey and a topographic map at one-foot contours, showing all the information necessary to design the new roadway. The boundary survey was used to determine the limits of the proposed right of way and various easements and will eventually be used to generate a recording plat after the roadway is constructed. We also prepared the Civil Engineering construction documents for this project, including geometric layout of the new roadway, curbs and gutters, crosswalks, parallel parking spaces along the driving lanes. This design was also coordinated with various other projects that DDS ENGINEERING, PLLC is performing for Western Kentucky University in the immediate area.

DDS ENGINEERING, PLLC was selected to provide design for the relocation of all utilities along the relocated 14th Avenue. Once all roadway and utility relocation plans were completed and approved, a contractor was hired, and DDS ENGINEERING, PLLC was contracted to provide construction management services for the University. Western Kentucky University felt that having the engineer of record for the design of the project also perform the construction management provided a distinct advantage since we were already familiar with the site, design, and objectives for the project. We began our contract management with the review of shop drawings and cut sheets submitted by the contractor. We were also provided with a construction schedule so that we could monitor and report the contractor's progress to the owner. Since this project occurred at the same time as the relocation of 15th Avenue, we were able to coordinate the construction management of both projects. This arrangement helped the owner coordinate the two projects and saved the owner money and time by not having two construction managers for two projects that were adjacent in the field.

DDS ENGINEERING, PLLC had an observer on site every day that the contractor had crews working on site. Our observer documented the daily progress of the utilities� installation and served as a liaison between the contractor and the owner. This project was located in an older section of Bowling Green and existing utility documentation was scarce and often inaccurate. Many meetings were required between the contractor and owner to decide the best method to handle the existing conditions encountered during construction. Unfortunately, the contractor did not meet the required deadlines, and DDS ENGINEERING, PLLC had to assist the owner with the assessment of liquidated damages. We also provided punch list items to the owner at the time of substantial completion and at the time of final completion.



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