The following update was posted by Supervisor Caleb Kershner on Facebook on Tuesday, January 23rd.
How Satisfied Are You With This Report on Plans to Widen Rt. 15 North?
I'm not happy. Move this project to the fast lane!
This sounds great, I understand things take time.
Should we believe them this time? I don't know.
My office recently received our latest briefing on the Route 15 North Widening project. Here is the current status on each of the project's major pieces:
𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝
Staff has completed the 100% design plans. Their trickiest engineering challenge was an old corrugated pipe inside the North King Street culvert. Replacing it would have required serious traffic disruptions - so instead, staff plans to insert a sturdy polymer sleeve into the culvert, which will reinforce it, and is a workable long-term solution. This sleeving process will require some short-term closures on southbound Route 15, which will be overnight closures as much as possible.
Right-of-Way (ROW) acquisition and utility relocation are also underway for the Phase I widening. The initial offer letters have been sent out to acquire the land for this project. One of the utility providers (Crown Castle) didn’t require any new land rights, so they have already begun their relocation work. Staff is working with the other utilities on their relocation plans, which are nearly complete at this point.
𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐈 𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝
The design plans are at 90%, and are now under review after the latest round of submissions in December 2023. Staff has finished their pre-application process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Utility relocation work is ongoing.
𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡
The concept plan has been developed. Staff is adjusting the design to address Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) concerns, which they will need to work on with Building & Development.
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐑𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭
Test pits have been performed as part of the utility relocation coordination. This involves doing some localized excavation in order to visually inspect and assess the ground and soil conditions. Staff is finishing up the precise easement locations and the 100% design plans, which they should be ready to submit soon.
Staff is also working with the utility companies to finalize their plans and estimates. Once the 100% design plans are complete, they will have the precise information they need to finish coordinating with the utilities and relocating them around the roundabout.
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐬𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝
Staff is currently developing the 60% design plans. The biggest challenge here has been managing the septic systems for the two homes that are right at the bend of the road. DTCI is working with the Health Department to find an alternative to the conventional septic fields. That solution will also include a sturdy retaining wall along the riverside of this stretch of Route 15, which will minimize the impact to the homes while also giving important protection for the Potomac River floodplain.
𝐋𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐭 𝐁𝐲𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬
Staff has sent their draft Request for Proposal (RFP) to Procurement for their review. They’re looking to have a finalized RFP ready in about two months, which will let them hire a consultant to start working through the details of exactly where and how we can optimally place the bypass.