By Joseph Goral
Staff Writer
jgoral@mihomepaper.com
OXFORD — The Oxford Village Council voted 4-0 to have ROWE Professional Services Company provide engineering design on the crosswalk and sidewalk repair project on Burdick Street.
The council approved a contract from ROWE during its Jan. 14 meeting for an amount not to exceed $29,100 as part of the Oxford DDA’s repair project. Council Member Maureen Helmuth was absent from the meeting. The cost will cover design, engineering, bid-specs and other costs prior to construction, Village Manager Joe Madore said.
ROWE will invoice the village monthly based on work completed during the billing period, according to the proposal.
Village Council and DDA Board Member Ashley Ross called the move “a win for everyone” because she said the DDA will be able to cover more infrastructure by using grant funds received after the board of directors unanimously approved receiving ARPA funding from Oakland County during their meeting on Aug. 19, compared to using another method. The ARPA funding will partially pay for the crosswalks.
Project description and timeline
According to the DDA’s December agenda packet, one crosswalk is planned for the west leg of the West Burdick Street and Hudson Street intersection and the second is planned for the pedestrian alley adjacent to 10 E. Burdick St.
The continental-style crosswalks will include sidewalk ramps, pavement markings and Americans-with-Disabilities-Act-compliant ramps with modifications to the curb and gutter.
The crosswalks’ construction total cost is estimated at $49,000.
Another project, listed as an enhancement to the crosswalk project, will improve existing sidewalks on both sides of Burdick Street, between Hudson Street and M-24 on the west side and between M-24 and the two parking lot entrances east of M-24.
Existing brick paver strips will be removed and replaced with colored stamped concrete to match products installed in 2023. Remaining sidewalks between the colored concrete and adjacent buildings would be replaced as needed.
This project’s estimated total is $135,000.
Another project, estimated at $22,000, would remove and replace existing sidewalk ramps on the north side of the Burdick Street and Mill Street intersection to meet ADA compliance.
According to the proposal, the contractor will be allowed to close a 10-foot-wide strip of Burdick Street pavement to create a workspace. It is assumed MDOT will allow shifting traffic to one side of the street with temporary left-turn lanes without needing to relocate traffic signal heads during construction.
ROWE can begin design work upon completion of survey work with the intent to have the job ready for bidding by early April, according to the proposal. The proposal adds construction should be completed in June.
For more information on the projects search “ROWE to create proposal and bid packet for three village projects” on oxfordleader.com.
Scope of services
The proposal’s scope of services include:
• Review the survey file the village provided to verify it is adequate for preparing design drawings.
• Prepare a standard detail sheet for sidewalk construction and the cross-section for colored and stamped concrete to ensure the contractor exercises proper standards. Notes will also be provided to clarify proper protocol for the contractor’s part for various topics including traffic management and more.
• Provide a streetscape design and jointing plan to make sure the final product meets expectations.
• Provide a grading design to depict proposed concrete surface grades in the area. This will include grading for new ADA-compliant accessible ramps.
• Prepare a pavement marking and signing plan for the crosswalks to be constructed at Burdick Street.
• Apply for and receive a construction permit from MDOT to install construction signs on M-24.
• Prepare a construction cost opinion once the design is complete.
• Write specifications and assemble a contract book.
• Assist the village with advertising the project and distributing bidding documents to potential contractors.
• ROWE will also review bid documents and help the village with awarding the construction contract.