Goodrich- The completion of the Goodrich pathway took yet another turn last week as the project contractor was given until June 16 to finish the project, or face having their performance bond called in by Flint-based Wade Trim Engineering.
Oakland Excavating Company of Pontiac was supposed to have the 10-foot wide asphalt pathway completed by Aug. 5, 2005. The pathway came at an estimated cost of $403,400, which includes the village paying $80,700 in matching funds, with Atlas Township paying an estimated $30,000. The Michigan Department of Transportation then paid the balance
At Monday’s village council meeting, representatives from Wade Trim said they have 22 pages of photographic evidence of failures on the part of Oakland Excavating. These problems include: asphalt gutters not being thick enough; yards along the pathway not being restored after construction; the fence along the pathway being out of alignment and surface damage to the pathway allegedly caused by the contractor’s equipment.
‘They (Oakland Excavating) were sent a letter, Friday’s the dead line,? Ed York, village council president said last Tuesday. ‘If he loses the bond, that looks very negative.?
‘The village does hold the contract with the contractor,? explained York.?(The Michigan Department of Transportation) is funding the majority of the contract.That’s what’s been making (the process) take a lot longer, because we have to go through them.?
Tom Sparks, operations manager for Oakland Excavating Company, replied to some of the issues in a letter sent to The Citizen last October.
‘Our personnel worked diligently with the engineer to resolve the ongoing problems that were encountered in the field,? wrote Sparks. ‘These problems were addressed, resolved and paid for as extra items to the original contract.?
Sparks said the conditions of the soil under the pathway played a big role in the current problems, such as cuts in the asphalt.
‘The existing ground conditions presented a challenge to our personnel as well as our asphalt subcontractor during construction,? said Sparks. ‘There were no provisions in the contract to address or attempt to rectify the existing ground conditions.?
‘They have until Friday to show significant improvement,? said Wade Trim representive Becky Baker, ‘or we will be calling in their bond.?
Progress on the Goodrich Pathway rolled forward last summer creating a non-motorized pathway bordering Hegel Road west of the Goodrich Country Club to Oaktree Elementary in Atlas Township.
Since then