State Route 95 (Oak Ridge Turnpike) Improvements

The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has roadway improvements proposed along SR 95 in three development phases. Phase One from the I-40 Gallaher Road interchange to the SR95/58 interchange was completed summer 2003.

Phase Two - SR 95/58 interchange to near Westover Drive

The improvements along this three-mile roadway section begin at the SR 95/58 interchange and extend to near Westover Drive.  From the SR 95/58 interchange to Southwood Lane, the improvements include widening from the existing two-lane roadway to a four-lane divided roadway with paved shoulders.  Just east of Southwood Lane, the roadway will taper to a five-lane section with paved shoulders and continue to Westover Drive.  In the area of Westover Drive, the roadway will taper back to the beginning of the Phase Three project where a four-lane divided roadway is being constructed.

The construction contract has been awarded to G.W. Wyatt and installation of erosion control measures and tree removal has been completed.  Grading and storm drainage is continuing.  Construction plans can be reviewed by appointment at the City Engineer's office, (865) 425-1807.  Construction is anticipated to be complete in May of 2012.

The State has revised roadway plans to better address the concerns of the Southwood Subdivision residents pertaining to safety and noise associated with the project.   Revisions to the plans along the subdivision include guardrail, drainage swales, protected vegetated areas, new tree plantings and shifting of the road alignment in some areas farther away from the homes. A 45 mph speed limit has been posted along the project.

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Sewer System Rehab Contracts

In 1992 the City began a program designed to reduce the amount of Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) entering the sanitary sewer collection system.  The reduction of I&I is important to eliminate occurrences of untreated wastewater bypassing the collection system.  Reduction of I&I is also important to reduce the cost of treating rainwater runoff that is retained in the collection system and deposited at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Normal dry weather flow at the plant is approximately five million gallons per day (MGD); however, during wet weather events flow can exceed 25 MGD.  Additionally, the City hopes to reduce the cost of damage claims from sewer backups.

 

To date, the City has let a total of 18 contracts as a result of the sewer rehab program.  Of those contracts, 14 were for the direct purpose of reducing I/I.  There were two contracts to clean and inspect lines using closed circuit television and two for the purpose of repairing or constructing sewer force main lines.  Approximately 211,248 feet or 15 percent of the 1,400,000 feet of city-owned sewer pipe has been rehabilitated.  Staff believes that it will be necessary to rehabilitate at least 25 percent of the system in order to significantly reduce the problems resulting from I&I.  Decreases in flow in individual collector lines serving neighborhoods where rehab has occurred have been observed.

 

On July 23, 2009 the City let for bid sewer rehab Contact “N” which is the 19th contract in the sewer rehab program.  Notice to proceed was issued on December 7, 2009.  Contract “N” included repairs in the southern portion of Mini-System E-11, along with repairs at all known point source problems city wide.  Construction was completed November 2010.  During contract “N” 25,767 feet of sanitary sewer main was renewed or replaced using various techniques.   In addition 201 manholes were rehabilitated or completely replaced.  At present post const. CCTV inspections are taking place and punch list items are being corrected prior to contract close out. 

 

Smoke testing, CCTV inspection and manhole inspections are taking place at the present time in the Emory Valley sewer shed to locate defects that are allowing I/I to enter the collection system.   These repairs along with a major repair project designed to upsize the sewer collector south of Oak Ridge Turnpike that runs parallel to Cairo Road and serves 4 mini systems located north of Oak Ridge Turnpike will be combined to form the next rehab contract, which will be designated Contract “O.”  Contract “O” is presently under design with an anticipated bid letting in summer 2011.

 

In March 2009, the City let for bid a contract (COR 09-05) to clean and inspect (TV) approximately 8,500 feet of sanitary sewer inceptor line running from Lafayette Drive west to near ORAU Way.  This project was completed in July 2009.  Information from the TV data will be used to determine repair needs on these segments of pipe.  During this project it was learned that a portion of this line, located at the southwest corner of Manhattan Center shopping center must be relocated to correct a bottle neck condition that is creating a restriction upstream.  These repairs will be performed in a future rehab contract.

 

In addition to contracts to improve the sanitary sewer collection system the City is also working to improving the condition of its sewer lift stations.  The City has let 5 contracts to date for the replacement of 10 lift stations.  Design work is presently taking place to replace the Castlewood, Gregory’s and Westview lift stations.  Acquisition of easements needed for 2 of the 3 lift stations has delayed completion of design.   The City hopes to be able to submit a design to TDEC for review in summer of 2011 with a bid letting late in the year.  

 

At present City waste water maintenance personnel are renovating 1 of the 4 lift stations the City took over when it accepted some of the utilities at the old K-25 site now known as the East Tennessee Technology Park (ETTP). 

 

The City anticipates choosing an engineering consultant to provide design services to replace a second pump station located at ETTP.   Staff would anticipate completion of design in spring of 2012 with a bid letting later that year.

 

EPA Administrative Order

The City of Oak Ridge received an Administrative Order (AO) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with an effective date of September 28, 2010.  The AO requires the City to perform certain work activities and submit specific information to the EPA within the time period stated in the AO.

 

Current field work activities to comply with the AO include the following:

          Manhole inspection

          Sewer line cleaning

          Sewer line tv inspection

 

The Public Works Department administrative staff has been evaluating Information Management Systems (IMS).  An RFP was issued in January to three vendors with proposals received in February and the review team chose a vendor to recommend the purchase of an IMS to City Council.

 

A Request for Statement of Interest and Qualifications (SIQ) was issued to twenty-one professional engineering firms, with fifteen firms submitting proposals.  A staff review team is evaluating the submitted proposals.  The selected firms will design sewer rehabilitation and sewer pump station projects as required by the AO.

 

More information concerning the EPA Administrative Order is posted at:

          http://www.cortn.org/PW-html/EPAOrderDocumentation.html

 

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Street Resurfacing

Street maintenance activities are primarily funded through the State Street Aid Fund.  This funding also is utilized for snow removal activities.  Due to the numerous snow events this winter, funding is not available for a city street resurfacing contract for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011 (FY2011).  The Public Works Department has requested that any funds remaining as of June 30, 2011, currently projected to be $300,000, be included in the FY12 budget to be utilized for the required 20% “match” funding for a TDOT resurfacing project.

The TDOT resurfacing project is in the investigation stage, with Public Works staff inspecting the eligible streets as not all city streets are eligible for the TDOT program.  Once the inspections are complete, the City will request TDOT to design the resurfacing project and will be required to pay the 20% match funding to TDOT.  It is planned that the TDOT resurfacing project could begin by early summer 2012.

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Sidewalk Improvements - SRTS

Grant team setup and the first meeting was December 12, 2007.  Application went to Council in February and submitted on March 10, 2008.  Awards announced; recipients meeting in Nashville on January 7, 2009.  The State executed the contract in late December 2009.  The notice to proceed from the State received on February 28, 2010.  The City has completed environmental.  Cannon and Cannon completed design.  Public meeting held on August 12, 2010.  TDOT has approved plans and contract documents and has authorized the City project bidding.

Pre-bid conference on November 23 and bids open December 16.  Contract awarded by City Council March 7, 2011.  Pre-con 3/11.  Notice to Proceed issued 4/15/11.  Construction on sidewalks began early May 2011 and proceeding nicely.

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ETTP Roads

DOE planning to transition some roads on-site to the City.  Phase 1A approved by Council; implementing agreed upon items.  Phase 1A roads have been transferred to the City.  Starting to look at Phase II roads.

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