Site work and paving for a mixed-use development in East Palo Alto, California. Completed plans call for site work for a bridge / tunnel; for paving for a bridge / tunnel; sidewalk / parking lot; and sidewalk / parking lot.

The City of Palo Alto (City) is seeking proposals for Construction Management services for the Newell Road Bridge Replacement project (Capital Improvement Project (CIP) PE- 12011). The project will replace the existing bridge, linking the cities of Palo Alto and East Palo Alto with a bridge that complies with today's standards. The project will be funded with local, State and Federal dollar requiring the Consultant to follow all pertinent local, state and federal laws and regulations. The DBE goal for this contract is 7%. 1.2. Background DESCRIPTON OF PROJECT AND BACKGROUND The project is located in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties and in the cities of Palo Alto and East Palo Alto. Newell Road Bride spans over San Francisquito Creek and connects Newell Road, an urban collector road in Palo Alto, to Woodland Avenue in East Palo Alto. The project limits extend into Edgewood Road in Palo Alto and approximately 750-ft along Woodland Avenue and 300-feet along Newell Road in East Palo Alto. The project includes construction of a new bridge that will replace the existing functionally obsolete bridge that was built in 1911, improve sight distances and provide multi-modal access where none exist. The existing two directional bridge is narrow, 18-feet wide barrier to barrier and lacks designated sidewalks, crosswalks and shoulders. The lanes widths are sub-standard, the approach at Woodland Avenue exceeds 17% slope, these along with the overgrown vegetation limit a clear sight distance at the intersection. To eliminate the excessive slope at the intersection and provide a clear line of site the approach will need to be raised approximately 4-feet, additional floodwalls and retaining walls are needed to support the raised roadway. Within East Palo Alto's jurisdiction, two SamTrans line have a bus stop along Woodland Avenue. These will need to be detour during the course of the project. The bus stop is also used by schools the stops will need to be relocated The bridge is part of ongoing study being conducted by the San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority (SFCJPA) to identify potential channel and bridge improvements that will provide increased flood protection to the area. Replacing this bridge is part of a larger project to improve the creek's ability to convey higher flows. Removing the existing abutments from within the creek thereby accommodating 7,500 cfs or approximately the 70-year storm event and estimated 1% (100-year) flow under pressurized conditions. The engineer's probable estimate of cost is $13 million and will be funded with local, State and Federal funding, including the majority of the funding coming from the Federal Highway Bridge Program (HBP), with the local match/non-participating costs coming from local, Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) and a State earmark funds. Caltrans has deemed portions of the improvements are not eligible for HBP funds. The area deemed not eligible for HBP is located north of the back of walk along Woodland Avenue on the opposite side of the creek. This includes several retaining walls and hardscape. These improvements will need to be tracked and will be paid by the 2022 Priority Legislative Project $2M state earmark the City of Palo Alto has secured. The project includes the following components: Bridge: The proposed bridge length and width are approximately 80-feet and 42.5-feet respectively, allowing the new abutments to be constructed outside the creek channel. The design includes two 10-foot wide lanes, two 4-foot wide shoulders/bike lanes, two 5-foot sidewalks and two Caltrans standard 85SW barriers. These improvements along with new signing and striping measures will improve multi-modal access. The bridge and the approaches will be raised approximately 4-feet. Raising the profiles will improve traffic safety, eliminate the sight restrictions and increase flow conveyance. The bridge will be supported by 8 new 54-inch diameter cast-in-drilled-hole concrete piles, four on either side of the bridge, most are located outside of the creek banks. A Type Selection Report was submitted to Caltrans in 2021 and Concurrence Memo dated January 26, 2022 is available. The Type Selection Report identifies a couple of design exceptions. A design exception to sidewalk was requested, reducing the width from 5'-2" for the 85SW instead of 6'-2". A design exception to the freeboard was requested, it's not practical to raise the bridge to be above the 50-year flow plus two feet without significantly increasing the impact in the creek and raising the bridge more than already proposed. Approaches: The approaches will be raised approximately 3.5-feet at the intersection to eliminate the steep grade on Woodland Avenue and to improve visibility. The elevation will taper down and conform approximately 350-ft in East and West direction on Woodland Avenue and extend 300-ft along Newell Road in East Palo Alto and to the nearest cross-street in Palo Alto, Edgewood Road. The conform limits are based on the design speeds. These approaches will be supported by new wing-walls, floodwalls and retaining walls. New crosswalks and accessibly compliant ramps will be constructed, signage and striping added for multi-modal use. There are a number of utility facilities within the project area including gas, power, sanitary sewer, water, storm drain and fiber. Existing utilities below and above ground will need to be maintained and relocated as required to sustain continuous service to all utility customers. It is anticipated that Newell Road between Edgewood Drive in Palo Alto and Woodland Avenue in East Palo Alto and portions of Woodland Avenue upstream and downstream of the bridge will need to be partially closed to through traffic during construction and re-opened during commute times to reduce traffic impact at the alternative bridge routes. Access to the driveways serving the nearby residences must be maintained throughout the construction period. Emergency responders will need to have full access. Parking along Woodland Avenue must also be re-opened during the evening for residents use. Plans indicate these retaining walls will need to be designed by others, these were not designed by the Lead Design Engineer. Permanent and Temporary Construction Easements (TCE) are required to construct improvements such as ramps, stairs, parking areas and associated retaining walls, within the creek and private properties. These will be secured before the construction phase. Construction and Phasing: The 18-month approximate construction timeframe includes: site preparation, utility relocation, partial road closures, detours of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, and potential night work. Work within the creek is also limited by regulatory permits from June 15 - October 15. Portions of the project work area along Newell Road will be utilized during construction for equipment staging /materials storage . The elements associated with the bridge, abutments, floodwalls, wing-walls, barriers, striping, etc. shall follow the latest Caltrans Construction Standards. Improvements away from the creek such as sidewalks, landscape, pavement and features within private properties will conform to either agency's standards and/or utility standards. The project is anticipated to receive permits from the following agencies - Cities of East Palo Alto and Palo Alto, Santa Clara Valley Water District, San Mateo County Flood and Sea Level Rise Resilience District, Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Department of Fish & Wildlife and Army Corps. Since the project receives funds from the HBP, Caltrans is an active stakeholder with oversight responsibilities. Caltrans approvals are required. Staff anticipates that regulatory permits will limit work within the creek to a 5-month window between June 15 through October 15. The City will be providing a U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS)-approved biologist to oversee environmental mitigation measures pursuant to the project's regulatory requirements. These activities include but are not limited to preconstruction and pre-disturbance surveys, monitoring the installation of exclusion barriers, preparing environmental awareness program and conducting environmental awareness training for construction employees and environmentally sensitive fencing within the flood basin and inspections for potential nesting birds. The biologist contract may be directly with the City or under the Consultant. The City will retain the services of the design consulting firm (NV5, Design Engineer) to provide design support and to review shop drawings and approve and respond to design-related issues and questions during construction, as necessary. A separate contractor and/or sub will be responsible for the design and installation of the retaining walls required to raise the roadway profiles. The City's Project Manager will be responsible for day-to-day management and oversight of the project and will manage the services of the Construction Management Consultant (Consultant). Additional Pre bid meting Note: Meeting ID: 295 169 368 771 Passcode: oJfdz9 Or call-in (audio only) +1 650-761-6432,,606183909# Phone Conference ID: 606 183 909# Question Submission Deadline:March 28, 2024, 1:00pm