ST9602-CS040514From: Ken Griffin
To: Praxedis Garza, P.E.
Date: Fri, May 14, 2004 3:05 PM
Subject: CMAQ #10
Mr. Garza,
This email is in response to your 5/10/04 letter. Specifically, I am responding to your comment in the letter
that states "This section will be closed to traffic during construction if deemed necessary." Let me be very
clear so there is no misunderstanding, the road will not be closed unless approved by the City Council of
the City of Coppell.
I spoke to Craig Goodroad at Dallas County on 4/14/04 with this same message and stated that we
needed to meet to resolve this along with several other issues. Mr. Goodroad responded to me on
4/21/04 stating that the plans do not call out for the road to be closed during construction and that TxDOT
was talking to the contractor concerning this matter. I told Mr. Goodroad and Duane Smith of your office
that if the contractor wanted to pursue closure of the road then a written request needed to be made to my
office so that it could be placed on a Council agenda for consideration. I told both people that under no
circumstances would the City consider closing the road during the week. I stated that under the right
circumstances the City may consider closing the road for a weekend, but would not consider closure
during the week.
This whole issue is somewhat confusing given the fact that the specifications for the project that the
contractor used in preparing his bid states "Unless prior permission is granted by the Engineer, no lane
closures shall be allowed from 7:00 am - 9:00 am and from 4:00 pm - 6:30 pm Mondays thur Fridays."
With this language, the contractor had to bid the project with the understanding that the lanes could not be
closed. The City was not provided the opportunity to review the specs before the bid or we would have
requested wording changes like we did on the plans. We did review the plans and on the Traffic Control
Plan we required the following wording "Contractor may close the lane next to the construction area only
during off-peak hours and only on a daily basis to perform the work. The peak traffic hours shall be
defined as 7:00-9:00 am and 4:00-6:30 pm."
I am again requesting that if the contractor wishes to close the road then a written request must be made
to my office with the exact dates and times for the closure. No full closure will be considered during the
week. Our Council meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. Requests need to be submitted at
least two weeks prior to the desired Council meeting.
If you wish to discuss this further, you reach me at 972-304-3686. However, I will be out of the office until
5/24/04.
Ken Griffin, P. E.
Director of Engineering/Public Works
kgriffin@ci.coppell.tx.us
CC: Ctay Phillips; Jim Witt