Crews discover problems when beginning work on Lauderdale pipes
Published 3:23 pm Saturday, September 6, 2014
Construction continued Friday afternoon to repair the sinkholes on Lauderdale Street near the Dallas County Courthouse. A collapsed storm drains created the sinkholes several months ago. (Alaina Denean | Times-Journal)
You never know just how bad a problem is until you dig down a little deeper.
That is exactly what happened last week when work crews began excavating portions of Lauderdale Street to fix collapsed storm drains.
Crews thought the drain they would be replacing on Lauderdale Street north of Alabama Avenue was a single, 24-inch pipe. What they found was two, 24-inch pipes.
According to the city’s consulting engineer Ray Hogg, the discovery caused little delay in the project that is expected to last two weeks, but is going to come with an increase in costs.
“Their plan is to work through the weekend to catch up on any delays,” Hogg said.
The initial plan for the project was for crews to spend one week replacing the collapsed storm drain on Lauderdale Street north of Alabama Avenue and another week replacing the storm drain south of Alabama Avenue.
When officials planned the work, they were only able to view the collapsed pipe on the south side, which is a single, 24-inch pipe, so they assumed the north side had the same type and number of pipe.
“Now, we are going to replace the two, 24-inch pipes with one 36-inch pipe, which will handle the same volume that the two pipes handled,” Hogg said.
Selma Mayor George Evans, and members of the council, are concerned what they consider a mistake, will cost the city more than the $44,500 bid awarded to John Woods Construction.
“At this point, I don’t think it should cost us anymore,” Evans said. “I will just have to wait and see what they come back to me with and then take it back before the council.”
The council discussed the problem during Thursday’s work session.
“I am really concerned about this,” Ward 1 council member Cecil Williamson said. “I want our city attorney to find out what might happen if any increases in cost take this project past the $50,000 mark. Are there any problems in regards to the bid law if we move past $50,000?”
City attorney Jimmy Nunn said he would review the bid and any increased costs and report back to the council during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday.
