HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The work on West 11th Avenue has prompted the finding of additional problems.
"We currently have the 11th Avenue reconstruction project going on," said Jeff Schenk with the city. "It's going on between the Harsha Canal and Main Street. Right now, we have from the Harsha Canal to 4th Street closed. During the construction of this phase, the contractor hit a water service line, repairing it revealed that the existing main was going to be too shallow. After the new pavement was going to be on, it was going to be approximately 20 inches from the top of pavement, which is well within the frost line. We have immediately begun to design a water main relocation. The intent is to be able to complete the realignment of this new water line, while still getting the main line of 11th Avenue open. I know the project has already been delayed."
The goal is not to delay the overall project any more than it already has, but they've got to get feedback from those who can do it first.
"We're trying to keep the phase on time, well, this new adjusted on time and move to the second phase, while still completing this water main in the first phase."
They don't expect the relocation cost to be more than the ten percent of change allowed for such projects, but wanted the council to be aware of the issue.
They've contacted M&D Excavating to come in," Schenk said. "We're just waiting for the price, to make sure it's within what we would find to be an average range of cost, plus a little bit, because we haven't had a water line, since these inflation rates have went crazy. I'm not exactly sure where it's going to come in."
Schenk said he'll keep the council aware as the project continues.