Johnson Street Bridge Replacement Project Quarterly Update Governance and Priorities Committee Meeting September 26 2013
Progress Update • Project remains within the approved budget • Planning Risk: Loss of schedule float (additional time allowed for unforeseen events) has been eliminated • Recent construction activity includes site clearing and construction of temporary work platforms for crews and equipment for building the new bridge • Construction is on schedule
Budget • Project remains within $92.8 million budget • Value Engineering opportunities remain at $775,000
Value Engineering Value engineering continues for: • East Abutment ($150,000) • Rest Pier ($125,000) • Lighting ($500,000) • Value engineering is expected to be complete in October 2013 with potential for further savings of up to $775,000, reducing contract price and increasing the construction contingency
Upcoming Construction Activity • continued installation of the bascule pier piles from now until February 2014 • installation of the cofferdam and start of construction of the west abutment • installation of the rest pier piles in the west side of the harbour • fabrication of the bascule span
Utility Replacement • Work to upgrade century-old water, sewer, and stormwater pipes is currently underway near the bridge • These utilities are being replaced in advance of new road alignments that will be built for the new bridge • Crews are working downtown until November 2013 • Work will continue on the west side of the bridge along Esquimalt Rd in November with completion expected in December 2013
Recent Engagement Activities • Staff attended Chinatown Night Market in July and September • Ongoing correspondence with Victoria West and Downtown neighbourhood associations, as well as Mermaid Wharf and Dockside Green buildings • Regular updates and correspondence with neighbouring hotels and business groups • Message that bridge will remain open through construction remains important
Recent Engagement Activities • Project eNews currently has 600 subscribers with an average of 30 new subscribers each month • More than 4,100 unique visitors to JohnsonStreetBridge.com from June to August • Following completion of design as approved by Council in December 2012, new renderings of the bridge will be added to the project website
Public Art • City’s staff will oversee the process and will be guided by the City’s Art in Public Places Policy • Artist may use a piece of steel from the rail bridge • Nation-wide call with a three stage jury selection process • Call for Expression of Interest to begin week of September 30
Public Art • In March 2012, Council adjusted project budget to $92.8 million. At the time, the Project Definition Report anticipated a public art budget of $350,000 • The City’s Public Art Advisory committee is supportive of a public art budget of $250,000 • A public art budget of $250,000 will be the largest in the City’s history and more than sufficient to produce a substantial piece
New Public Green Space Known conditions that will guide development of s-curve lands: � Official Community Plan identifies area as a proposed park and preserves rail corridor through the area � Downtown Core Area Plan identifies as a waterfront lookout � Council direction in Oct 2011 was to retain land as green space � Pedestrian connections constructed as part of the bridge project � Road access from Esquimalt Rd to Delta Hotel that will be built as part of the bridge project
New Public Green Space Known conditions that will guide development of s-curve lands, continued: � new plaza area constructed on the south-west side of the bridge � Maintaining a max grade of 3:1 to increase programming possibilities and allow a reduction in maintenance costs � Ownership of adjacent properties � History of area as a First Nations village site � Public input received to date through previous Johnson Street Bridge engagement activities in 2012
New Public Green Space Unknown conditions which will also impact the future use space: � Soil conditions which may restrict some uses of the space � Archeological assessment � Future uses of adjacent properties � Future uses of the adjacent water lot • Staff expect more information in the coming months and will develop an engagement strategy to be brought to Council in November • Engagement activities are anticipated to begin in December or early 2014
Recommendation • That Council approve a Public Art budget of $250,000 • That Council receive this report as information
Thank You
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