SS9402C-CS 980512To:
From:
RE:
MEMORANDUM
FROM ~
DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING
Mayor and City Council
Ken Griffin, P.E., Dir. of Engineering and Public Works
Work Session - Discussion of a Traffic Control Plan for the reconstruction of the
trench line on the south side of Bethel Rd. from Grapevine Creek to Freeport Pkwy.
Date: May 12, 1998
For some time now the trench associated with the Bethel Road sewer line that was installed in early 1996
has been failing. At best this is a nuisance to the vehicular traffic, at worst it is a potentially dangerous
situation with cars swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid failing pavement. It was and is the City's
opinion that this is a workmanship issue associated with the original contractor. However, the original
contractor's attorney has notified the City that their client has no responsibility for the condition of the
roadway and they are not responsible for the ongoing failures. That position is obviously something that
the City may wish to pursue at some point in the future, especially since this section of the roadway is still
under the two-year maintenance period of the project.
My goal at this point is to insure the integrity of the roadway in the future. The City of Coppell has
retained the services of a geotechnical firm which has recommended that we remove at least 3 feet of the
existing trench line, put in a geo fabric and then recompact the 3 feet to 100% density. In essence, we will
be attempting to create a bridge over any other bad areas in the trench line. On May 4, 1998 there was a
coordination meeting held with a contractor, Dallas County, the geotechnical firm retained by the City and
city staff concerning this project. It is anticipated that the reconstruction of the trench line will be
performed in three sections. The first section is fi:om south Coppell Road east to Grapevine Creek. The
second section is fi:om north Coppell Road west to Freeport Parkway and the third section is between the
two Coppell Roads. The importance of expediently working the section between the two Coppell Roads
has been conveyed to the contractor and they are sensitive to the adjacent businesses.
One of the major issues associated with the removal and replacement of a portion of the backfill is the
traffic currently on the roadway. In late 1995, City Council approved a plan whereby the east bound
traffic on Bethel Road wa~ rerouted south at either Royal Lane or Freeport Parkway to Southwestern
Blvd. then back north on Denton Tap Road to avoid the section of roadway between Freeport Parkway
and Grapevine Creek. To insure an expedient project, staff is again requesting Council concurrence to
close down Bethel Road to east bound traffic between Freeport Parkway and Denton Tap Road, with the
appropriate rerouting down Freeport Parkway to Southwestern Blvd. and then back to Denton Tap Road.
The majority of the failures on the roadway have occurred east of Freeport Parkway. If the City is
allowed to reestablish the closing of the south half of the roadway (east bound traffic), the contractor has
indicated that it will take approximately one month to perform the work. This is obviously assuming that
we have the appropriate weather to remove and replace the trench line. Without the ability to close off the
roadway, as we were previously allowed to do, it will be very difficult to perform this work, especially in
an expedient manner.
Staff will be available to answer any questions at the Council meeting.
,,crrr oF co~,P~.~ ~Nomeenmc,.~cEu~tcE 8r