SS9402C-CS 980218COPPELL, TEXAS 75019
P.O. Box 478
Coppell, Texas 75019
972-462-0022
February 18, 1998
Doug Bisballe, Vice President
Pate Brothers Construction, Inc.
780 West Mansfield Hwy.
Kennedale, TX 76060
Re: Grapevine Creek Ill SS 94-02B / Bethel Road SS 94-02C Sanitary Sewer Improvements
Dear Mr. Bisballe:
This letter is written as a follow-up to prior correspondence between the City of Coppell and
yourself concerning the continued failures along the sewer trenchline on Bethel Road and Bethel
School Road. The first written correspondence in my file concerning the failures along Bethel
Road was dated May 21, 1996. Since that time, letters have been sent urging your firm to either
repair or provide information determining the cause of the failures along the trenchline. The last
correspondence from your office concerning the trenchline stated that the failures are a result of
water ponding in the drainage ditches. That same letter also states that your firm will stand by
any failures that are a result of your workmanship. Please provide any research, studies, testing,
etc. that led to the opinion that water standing in the drainage ditches was the cause of the
failures.
As you may be aware, the City of Coppell has expended a tremendous amount of time, effort
and money trying to maintain Bethel Road in a driveable condition. Because of citizens
complaints and the ongoing failures, the City of Coppell retained the firm of Patton, Burke and
Thompson Geotechnical Engineers to perform testing along the trenchlines of both Bethel Road
and Bethel School Road to provide the City of Coppell a determination of the cause of the
failures. The conclusion of the report is that the compaction in the trenchline does not meet the
95% density requirements. The report also, on an average, recommends that the surest
alternative to remedying the pavement distress would be the removal and replacement of the
backfill for approximately 4,000 linear feet along Bethel Road. Because of lack of proper
compaction, consolidation of the backfill has continued and there is no reason to believe that it
won't continue for several more years. This has resulted in the failure of the road surface and
the need to continually repair the road. There is nothing contained in the report which indicates
that any standing water adjacent to the roadway has lead to failures of the trenchline. It should
be noted that prior to the installation of the sewer line this roadway was in a good drive, able
condition with no roadway failures. Nothing associated with the installation of the sewer line
changed any drainage patterns adjacent to the roadway.
The test results on Bethel School Road also show that there exists a potential for that roadway to
fail. At this time we have only had one failure along the trenchline on Bethel School Road.
However, that could be due to the fact that the surface is reinforced concrete paving which can
bridge any voids.
The two-year maintenance period on this project began on July 15, 1997 and is scheduled to end
on July 15, 1999. Because this project is still within the maintenance period and the trench
failures appear to be a result of workmanship, the City of Coppell is requesting that you provide
a work plan detailing when you will be in the area to remove and replace the backfill along
Bethel Road and Bethel School Road. Bethel Road is a major entrance into and out of Coppell
and currently it is a dangerous roadway. If the timetable in your work plan is not acceptable,
then the City of Coppell may be forced to take what action is necessary to provide a safe
roadway to the citizens of Coppell and recoup our expenditures as provided for in the contract.
With this letter I am providing you a copy of the study as provided to the City of Coppeil by
Patton, Burke and Thompson. Please contact me as soon as possible to discuss this situation so
that we can determine what the next step should be in resolving this issue.
Sincerely,
Director of Engineering and Public Works
Jim Witt, City Manager
Clay Phillips, Deputy City Manager
Pete Smith, City Attorney
Travelers Casualty & Surety Company of America
Arm: Bruce C. DeHart
1 Tower Square
Hartford, Ct. 06183 Bond #071SB100995107 & Bond #071SB100995108
AETNA Life & Casualty
Attn: Bruce C. DeHart
Elsey & Assoc. S/I, Inc.
8810 Will Clayton Pkwy. ~C
l~nnhles ~ 77338
Performance Bond ~ 071SB100995108
5. Received B~ (Print NarneL
~ ,-,~.umoer 1994
1. l"q Addressee,s Acldmsa I
~ Return ..... / l"'1 In~ured _cm
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