WAKONDA DRIVE CRACK AND SEAT

Project Overview

The City of Norwalk knew the residential infrastructure within the community was deteriorating, particularly within the Lakewood neighborhood.  Once a rural county subdivision, this neighborhood was experiencing advanced deterioration of the street network, which contributed to an overall feeling of neglect among the residents, and lowered property values.  An approach to address the needs of the infrastructure, while minimizing the impact to the residents was needed.

McClure completed Phase 1 of the “Norwalk Community Infrastructure Study” or NCIS.  This study quantified the condition of the streets, assigning a Pavement Condition Index or PCI value to street segments within the neighborhood.

Based on the PCI value and other factors such as vertical displacement of pavement, and settlement of service trenches, a recommendation of either reconstruction or rehabilitation was made for each segment.

Wakonda Drive was first on the list to be addressed, and based on the PCI value and other factors including its’ higher traffic level, as a minor collector, a Crack and Seat with HMA Overlay was recommended.

The project included:

• Replacement of the curb and gutter
• New subdrains along the street with future connections for sump pumps
• Installation of new sidewalk where none currently existed
• Modifications to the pedestrian ramps to meet current ADA standards

By utilizing the Crack and Seat method of rehabilitation 95% of the construction activity can be accomplished under traffic.  And unlike full reconstruction, which leaves driveways closed for many weeks, the residents along Wakonda Drive experienced on average, four to six days of closer spread out over the duration of the project.

Working in residential neighborhoods is tricky business. Our on-site project personnel knocked on every door and met every neighbor, providing them with parking passes for dedicated spots on the side streets when their driveways were closed.  Our staff also explained how the trash service would be handled by the contractor, and where temporary mailboxes were located during construction.

Our Staff was one a first name basis with everyone, and reachable by phone and email.  This dedication to service of the residents paid off during the course of the project.

Project Highlights:

• Utilization of the crack and seat method allowed for 95% of the construction to be completed during traffic
• Residents along Wakonda Drive experience a smaller duration of driveway closures due to the use of the crack and seat method
• Our on-site project personnel knocked on every door and met every neighbor, providing them with parking passes for dedicated spots on the side streets when their driveways were closed, discussed how trash service would be handled, as well as temporary mail boxes