As everyone in the neighborhood knows, Cully Blvd has been under construction for the past several months. I do believe that the project is much need. I have always been bothered when I see a family walking along Cully between Prescott and Emerson with an arm full of groceries pushing a stroller in the bike lane or on the shoulder of the road with traffic moving swiftly. When I first notice there where problems with the project, I tried to turn the other cheek. However, I started noticing more and more things that caused red flags to the point where I stopped and spoke with the project foreman, and even made some calls downtown. With little to nothing being done by either the city or the contractor I thought I start here before proceeding further. With that being said, I have a few questions related to the work taking place within the project scope.
First, please allow me to give you some background about me. I have worked as a Public Works Inspector with BES for the past 8 years. I have worked as a construction Laborer, Foreman, and Superintendent. Within that time frame, I have worked on some of the largest and most complex construction projects that the city of Portland has ever constructed. I have also inspected some of the smaller projects. I have a OSHA 30 hr and a OSHA 10. I also have a Traffic Control Specialist card.
Questions about this project are as follows;
Public Safety
1.Where is the public foot traffic supposed to travel? The contractor (WTC) has stock piles, or construction spoils all along the project making it very difficult for families to walk on Cully. There are no pedestrian detour signs any place along the project.
2.According to city of Portland Transportation Specifications, a travel lane should not be less then 10 or 11 feet. There have been several times that the travel lanes have been been down to 8 or 9 feet because the contractor is working in both the South and North bound lanes.
3.Trench patches and steel plates. At the intersection of Cully and Emerson the contractor has left 3/4- crushed rock in the intersection since the time the contractor broke ground. At one point, they even had a steel plate on half of the trench. I have not seen the project specifications first hand. However, Temp ac or paving should be provided not only to keep the public safe, but to protect the work completed and the edges of the trench. If a steel plate is to be used, it is to have a no skid coating, have temp AC placed around the edges, and be pined down. None of the safety precautions have been used.
4.Open trenches. Ie, the water quality features. I'm not sure how the contractor could protect the public from this one other than the usage of temp fence panels. As the construction proceeds along the East side of the street, the sidewalks and the water quality features are starting to take form. However, this is creating a safety hazard that is not being looked at. If the public is walking on the sidewalk, there is nothing in place to protect then from falling into the water quality planter. I thought open holes had to be protected?
5.Flaggers. Backs to traffic while flagging, and flagging against signals. Not only is it a hazard to the public, it is also a hazard for the workers. It is against city, state, and federal law to flag at a intersection against the post mounted signs and the traffic signals. If the contractor is required to work in the intersection, the traffic lights need to be turned off, and the post mounted signs need to be covered while the work is being conducted.
6.Signage, Barrels, and cones. Have have see signs leaned up on barrels. At the intersection of Prescott and Cully the right turn lane heading East on Prescott has a combinations of barrels with cones of various sizes blocking the lane with no signage telling the public that there has been a traffic change ahead. I do realize there is a steel plate with some nuts that has been place for future work.
Erosion Control
1.According to Title Ten. the use of a water truck to clean the road surface is not allowed. Also, the big push is to use a sweeper truck that has a vacuum style "pick up device." Not a "broom." This contractor has used broom on the project. It has caused dust clouds, and has caused objects from the ground to become "air born."
2.Again, stock piles of spoils with out protection. Title Ten states all stock piles shall be protected during the rainy season. I believe the rain season is defined as Sept, Oct 1st to April, May 1st. It also states there will be no earth disturbing activity until all erosion control devices are in place. There are inlet sock in place. Have they been checked or replace as needed, I couldn't tell you.
3.Concrete trucks cleaning out on the ground. How about putting down a steel pan or even some plastic or wood? Yes the rocks and some of the concrete cement will stay on the surface and harden up to be removed with the soil for base rock placement. My question is, where does the water go? Title Ten again.
Like I stated in the beginning. I do believe in this project. I find it really difficult to stand back and see how the project management from the city to the contractor have taken a hands off approach to dealing with these issues.
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