FDOT stresses patience during sidewalk replacement project
BRADENTON BEACH – The Florida Department of Transportation’s installation of a brick paver sidewalk along Gulf Drive North was temporarily complicated by a broken water pipe.
The construction accident occurred on the morning of Thursday, Oct. 21. The broken pipe contributed to the ongoing Gulf Drive traffic delays associated with the FDOT-funded sidewalk replacement project.
The broken water pipe also impacted water pressure for some Bradenton Beach residents. During Thursday afternoon’s Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting, Commissioner Ralph Cole said his residential water service was impacted by the broken pipe.
At 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon, FDOT Community Outreach Manager Barbara Catlin responded to an email inquiry from The Sun.
“The contractor hit a water source and it has been repaired. This can happen in construction environments. Teams were in place to supervise this situation, including FDOT, Manatee County and the city of Bradenton Beach. Water will return to full pressure now,” Catlin stated in her email.
City Attorney Ricinda Perry also expressed concerns about project-related signage impeding sidewalks and bike lanes and she asked that the signs be repositioned accordingly.
Ongoing concerns
City officials continue to express concerns about FDOT’s sidewalk replacement project. The concerns pertain in part to the use of oversized brick pavers and the manner in which they are being installed along Gulf Drive North, from Ninth Street North to the S-curve near the southern end of Avenue C.
City officials are also concerned about FDOT’s expectation that the city will maintain and repair the brick paver sidewalk after the state-funded installation is completed.
On Wednesday, Oct. 13, Bradenton Beach Public Works Director Tom Woodard shared the city’s concerns with FDOT Construction Project Administrator Christopher McInnis.
In his email, Woodard stated, “I understand the difficulties of your position and with the project environment, but on behalf of the city commission, residents and visitors, I need to again express concerns with the installation of the brick paver sidewalk. In our estimation, there are numerous tripping hazards, uneven surfaces and (we) believe that the asphalt fill on the borders is too thin to last and will ultimately become another hazard for walkers and bikers, as well as a constant maintenance issue/expense for the city.
“I have been informed that the city is not willing to accept the responsibility/liability for the sidewalk if what currently exists is the finished product. For the city to be willing to accept the maintenance and responsibility, FDOT will need to contact the city’s legal department to see if the commission is willing/able to adjust the agreement,” Woodard wrote.
On Thursday, Oct. 14, Woodard received an email response from FDOT Operations Center Engineer Trisha Hartzell.
In her response, Hartzell stated, “Thank you for your email expressing your concerns on the paver project initiated by the city of Bradenton Beach, funded and constructed by the department and maintained by the city of Bradenton Beach. We respectfully ask that you please be patient with us during the construction phases of this project, as no portion within the limits of construction is at 100% final completion. There is still a lot of work left on this project.
“A little education about the installation process: It is being performed in multiple layers and after the pavers are installed they are being tamped down to even them out. The pavers are being installed per standard specifications and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, with no greater than 2% cross slope. However, the existing sidewalk is out of compliance with specs and ADA requirements. Therefore, we will also be replacing sections of the sidewalk to meet the pavers and have a smoother transition back into compliance,” Hartzell wrote.
“In reference to your comment with regards to the asphalt, again this is currently a temporary construction condition and we ask for your patience during the construction process. What you see backfilled in the asphalt is cold patch the contractor will be milling and resurfacing from the edge of the travel lane to the pavers. In the interim, a temporary condition needs to exist for safety. Originally, the Manatee County UWS plans called for their contractor to remove and replace the asphalt from the edge line to the pavers, however, we have been informed that this work was removed before the contract was finalized. Therefore, we will be adding work to this contract to leave it in an acceptable and safe condition,” Hartzell wrote.
“We will have two walk-throughs on this project before a final acceptance and transfer of maintenance takes place. The city will be invited to these walk-throughs and it is imperative that you are in attendance. This project is a partnership between the city of Bradenton Beach and FDOT and I encourage you and your team to reach out to me with any concerns so that we can discuss and address them before shedding a negative light into the community. This paver project was initiated by the city and the department came forward with the means to accomplish it. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: a safer, more efficient product to relieve flooding issues for safety and community success,” Hartzell wrote.
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