Melody Lake A & B, Birchcrest C and Grandview A Neighborhood Roadway Reconstruction

See the following Phase 1 and 2 updates, dates subject to change due to weather. Please remember to check your front door daily for time sensitive notices.

Phase 1:

• Water Service installation began on Hansen Rd. and will continue through May 25.
• Storm Sewer installation is set to begin late during the week of May 17, and will also continue through May 25.
• Road excavation will begin on Hansen Rd. late during the week of May 17, with other phase 1 streets to follow during the week of May 25.

Phase 2:

• Crews will begin removals for temporary water service during the week of May 17. After removals are complete, the contractor will begin setting up the temporary watermain in the right of way in front of your home.

Phase 1 Watermain and Water Service Update

The temporary water system was installed. If your home has not been transferred to the temporary system please schedule an appointment with Kusske Construction to have this connection made. Information on scheduling was delivered to your front door.

The contractor will begin watermain installation during the week of 5/10, followed by new water service installation. Anticipate loss of driveway access from 7 AM to 7 PM for one day due to service installation. Please check your front door daily for time sensitive notices.

Phase 2 Removals

The contractor will begin removals for temporary water service during the weeks of 5/10 and 5/17.

Traffic and Access Update

Beginning Thursday, May 6, vehicles traveling through Phase 1 on Bernard Place, Code Ave, and Tingdale Ave may only go southbound toward West 60th Street to facilitate watermain work until further notice.

It’s likely that you will not have access to your driveway between 7 AM and 7 PM for a day during watermain work. Please check your front door daily for time sensitive notices, which will include information about acceptable parking locations.

Watermain and Temporary Water Service Update

The contractor plans to complete temporary water setup and sanitizing by April 30. Kusske Construction anticipates connecting houses to the temporary water system beginning on Monday, May 3. Please check your front door daily for time sensitive notices, which will include information about scheduling your temporary water hookup. The new watermain and water service installation is scheduled to finish in late May, weather permitting.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this work!

Project Update and Construction Kickoff – April 19, 2021 (amended April 21, 2021)

City Council Update

On April 20, the City Council awarded a construction contract to Valley Paving and approved a $17,200 per REU preliminary assessment amount.

Construction Kickoff

Construction is scheduled to begin on April 21 and the project area will be divided into six phases. Each phase is anticipated to last 10-12 weeks. Estimated start dates are shown on the phasing map for the first two phases here. Stay tuned for future updates for estimated start dates for phases 3-6.

We look forward to working with you throughout this important construction project. Unfortunately due to COVID restrictions we cannot host a construction kickoff meeting. We invite you to review this document here which includes a project update as well as what to expect during construction. If you have further questions, please reach out to Evan Acosta here.

Phase 1 Update

Phase 1 will begin with the installation of a temporary water supply system. This will allow the contractor to replace the existing watermain and services with minimal disruption to your water supply. The contractor will need access to your basement to finalize this setup. You will be contacted by either a knock on the door or a flyer on your front door by Kusske Construction Company. They will be the contractor making the final connection to the temporary water and, after the new watermain has been installed, they will reconnect your water service to the new watermain. Please check your front door frequently for time sensitive notices.

The contractor will begin removing the concrete portions of the street on Wednesday, April 21. As early as the end of this week, the contractor will begin reclaiming a portion of the asphalt pavement, which grinds up the pavement and gravel underneath the road to produce a suitable recycled material to use as a temporary driving surface. Removal of concrete curb and potentially the end of your driveway pavement will also likely occur, as will trees identified for removal.

Parking restrictions are in effect for Phase 1. There is No Parking from the hours of 7 AM to 9 PM (or until the contractor has noticeably left for the day).

We look forward to working with you throughout this important construction project. Unfortunately due to COVID restrictions we cannot host a construction kickoff meeting. We invite you to review this document which includes a project update as well as what to expect during construction. If you have further questions, please reach out to Evan Acosta.

Consider upgrading your service pipes and connecting your sump pump to the City’s storm sewer system

Service Pipes

Now may be the time to upgrade your sanitary sewer and water service pipes. Homeowners are responsible for the sanitary sewer pipe from the main in the road to the house and the water service pipe from the water shut-off valve to the house. Upgrading private service pipes is not required as part of the project; however, the age and condition of the City-owned utilities suggests that your service pipes may be nearing the end of their useful life. To find more information on this topic, please see utility upgrade letter.

Sump Drain Connection

Sump drain pipes will be installed behind the new curbs where feasible. If you have a sump pump that discharges into the street or the boulevard, we encourage you to connect it to the new sump drain pipe after it is installed. To find more information on this topic, please see utility upgrade letter.

Please see the following updates relating to the CenterPoint Energy gas main and service replacement project.

1. CenterPoint Energy’s contractor, Michels Corporation, is scheduled to begin gas main installation on March 29.
2. This work is occurring to replace old gas main and services prior to the City’s Melody Lake Reconstruction Project.
3. Work is anticipated to begin on the following streets:
   • Grove Street between Hansen Road and Tingdale Avenue
   • Code Avenue between Grove Street and West 60th Street
   • Windsor Avenue
4. Work will continue on the majority of the remaining streets later in the spring.
5. City staff will only be onsite for this work periodically to ensure the gas main is not placed in the way of our future infrastructure.
6. For additional gas main and service replacement information and updates please visit CenterPoint Energy’s project web page.

CenterPoint Energy Melody Lake Website

Thank you.

Recall the December 2020 Public Hearing presented an estimated $24,200 assessment including subcuts. Preliminary assessments were not approved at that time, and the Hearing was closed but City Council had up to six months to decide on assessments.

At the March 13 City Council Retreat, Council supported removing subcuts and public retaining walls from assessments for the 2021 street reconstruction projects. At the April 6 City Council Meeting, staff will bring a revised assessment policy to reflect those changes. The December 2020 Engineering Study estimated assessment without subcuts was $17,200 per REU. At the April 20 City Council Meeting, if we receive reasonable bids, staff intends to ask Council to approve the $17,200 preliminary assessment amount and award a construction contract to the low bidder.

Continue to check this website for updates as we open bids and ask Council to revise the assessment policy, adopt preliminary assessments and award a construction contract.

Additional Background

The Street Funding Task Force recently completed their work and presented two recommendations to fund street reconstruction. The work of the task force can be found here https://www.bettertogetheredina.org/street-funding-task-force. Along with the funding recommendations, they also recommended removing subcuts and public retaining walls immediately from assessments. This topic was also discussed at the March 13 City Council Retreat.

At the retreat, in addition to facilitating a discussion on how street reconstruction is funded, staff presented the schedule and assessment concerns for the 2021 projects. The projects are Melody Lake and Creek Knoll. Staff voiced concerns that without removing subcuts and public retaining walls now, the street reconstruction program would have to be delayed until a decision is made. If Council supports removing subcuts and public retaining walls now, the 2021 street reconstruction projects could most likely continue if we receive reasonable bids.

The City Council authorized the design and contractor bidding phase for the project on December 15, including concrete sidewalks along Hansen Road and West 56^th Street between Hansen Road and Normandale Road. This authorization does not include special assessments. The discussion about potential assessments will continue for up to 6 months until staff can bring back more information to the City Council.

The proposed West 56^th Street sidewalk east of Code Avenue will be designed with a 2-3’ grass boulevard between the existing concrete curb and gutter and the sidewalk, with the front edge of the sidewalk on the back edge of the existing concrete driveway aprons. No modifications are proposed to the existing 27’ wide roadway, concrete curb and gutter, concrete driveway aprons, or parking availability.

If you'd like to provide live audio testimony during the public hearing on December 7, call in at 1-800-374-0221. The Conference ID is 8034569.