STATE ROUTE 138 - L.A. COUNTY TO INTERSTATE-15
CONSTRUCT TRUCK CLIMBING LANES, IMPROVE SHOULDERS, AND REHABILITATE PAVEMENT
EA 08-4697V
KP 0.0/22.4 (PM 0.0/13.9)
Project Description:
This project will construct a westbound truck-climbing lane from west of Hess Road to Beekley Road and an eastbound truck-climbing lane from 0.2 mile east of Beekley Road to just past the summit on State Route 138 (SR-138). Shoulders will be improved to current standards throughout the project. The project will also rehabilitate the pavement of portions of SR-138 from 0.1 mile west of the Los Angeles County line to 0.4 mile west of Lone Pine Canyon Road and will include a curve realignment just west of Lone Pine Canyon Road.
Need for Project:
Sustained uphill grades indicate a need for Truck-Climbing Lanes in the sections indicated above. Narrow shoulders and restricted passing opportunities are a hindrance to safe traffic flow. Caltrans maintenance records indicate that this area is badly in need of pavement rehabilitation. It accommodates a high volume of truck traffic and it has been over 20 years since the last major pavement rehabilitation.
Purpose of Project:
- Improve traffic safety.
- Improve traffic flow.
- Improve ride quality.
- Extend pavement life.
- Upgrade shoulders and drainage to current standards.
Scope of project:
This project will widen SR-138 to include truck-climbing lanes and a 1.2m (4 foot) median buffer. The project will also rehabilitate the existing pavement and upgrade the drainage and shoulders to current standards.
Original Project Funding:
Source / Construction Total / Fiscal YearSHOPP*
/ $22.8 M / 2004/05Proposed Project Funding:
Source / Construction Total / Fiscal YearSHOPP*
/ $44.3 M / 2004/05*State Highway Operation and Protection Program
Original Project Schedule:Proposed Project Schedule:
Start Construction / End Construction / Start Construction / End Construction8/3/05 / 4/2/08 / Winter
2006 / Winter
2008
CURRENT PR0JECT STATUS
Contract bids were opened on June 30, 2005. Seventeen bid packages were issued to prospective bidders but only two bids were received. The low bid was $53,366,602, 176% above the engineer’s estimate, and the second bid was $54,089,860. The bids were subsequently rejected.
REASON FOR INCREASE; FINDINGS AND PROPOSED CHANGES
Caltrans has contacted the non-bidders to inquire why they did not submit bids. Eleven stated one reason to be due to a lime-treatment specification for the asphalt. They also stated that the proposed work areas and work hours were too restrictive to allow efficient roadway excavation and other construction operations. In essence, to keep SR-138 open to traffic during construction limited the contractor’s ability to efficiently and safely operate construction equipment, thereby increasing costs. The contractors who submitted bids indicated that their higher bids were also a reflection of the increase in the cost of trucking, oil, concrete and steel.
Based on the findings, the engineer’s estimate was re-evaluated, the project’s staging plans were revised, and the lime-treatment asphalt specification was removed. The new unit costs were derived using current actual costs, as well as current bid results on similar projects. The revised cost estimate for this project, including state furnished materials and construction, is $43,426,000. Supplemental funds of $20,641,000 were needed in order to allow the project to be re-advertised for construction.
FUNDING STATUS
This project is programmed in the 2004 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) funded by both safety improvement and roadway rehabilitation funds to begin construction in FY 2004-05. This project was allocated a total of $22.8 million in April 2005. Supplemental funds have been secured to cover the additional needed to match the current estimate of $44.3 million.
TRAFFIC HANDLING
- Original Construction Traffic Plan:
Two lanes would remain open throughout the construction period in the truck-climbing lane section. Reversing traffic control of one lane would be implemented as needed in the rehabilitation sections. Construction hours were anticipated to be between 7 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday. Exceptions would be for designated legal holidays and the day before.
- Proposed Construction Traffic Plan: Because these work areas and times are too restrictive, Caltrans proposes to construct this project in 3 stages (see below & map on reverse. Roadway closures will be necessary during the periods noted for each stage. In general, SR-138 roadway closures are proposed to be as follows:
Open from December 2005 to June 2006.
Closed for Stage 1 work from June 2006 to September 2006
Open from September 2006 to April 2007
Closed for Stage 2 work from April 2007 to August 2007
Closed for Stage 3 work from September 2007 to December 2007
Open from December 2007 until construction is completed
Stage 1: Close SR-138 from Beekley Road to SR-2. The duration of this closure will be three months. The closure will commence in June 2006 and the road will re-open in September 2006. At all times during construction, emergency access will be maintained.
Stage 2: Close SR-138 from SR-2 to just west of Hess Road. The duration of this closure will be five months. The closure will commence in April 2007 and the road will re-open in August 2007. At all times during construction emergency access will be maintained.
Weather permitting, roadwork that does not require complete closures will continue in the months between Stages 1 and 2.
Stage 3: Close SR-138 at Morman Rock. This location is approximately 1 mile west of Interstate 15. The duration of this closure will be three months. The closure will commence in September 2007 and the road will re-open in December 2007. Access will be maintained for local residents. At all times during construction emergency access will be maintained.
Traffic Detour: Traffic will be detoured around this area as follows: Westbound SR-138 thru traffic will be directed to stay on I-15 and use SR-395 to SR-18. Eastbound traffic will be directed along SR-18 to US-395 and then to I-15. These will be the detours used for all three stages.
Major Stakeholders:
- High desert and mountain residents/commuters.
- US Forest Service, Federal Highways (FHWA), US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), California Fish & Game, and California Highway Patrol.
Contact Persons:
- Terri Kasinga, Caltrans Public Affairs, (909) 383-4631
- John Ashton, Caltrans Project Manager
Revised 8/23/05