HomeMy WebLinkAboutVII(C) Discussion Of The Addition Of A Turn Lane On Orlando Avenue/Bluford Avenue Intersection • • _ = Agenda 4-06-99
o` ••', o Item VII C
Of 000°` JAMES W. SHIRA,P.E.
CITY ENGINEER/UTILITIES DIRECTOR
150 N.LAKESHORE DRIVE•OCOEE,FLORIDA 34761
PHONE(407)656-2322 EXT.142•FAX(407)656-7835
To: The Honorable Mayor and Board of City Commissioners
From: James W. Shira, P.E., City Engineer/Utilities Director
Re: Orlando Avenue Turn Lane
Date: April 2, 1999
As requested, we have looked at various issues related to the installation of a westbound
to southbound left turn lane on Orlando Avenue at Bluford Avenue. We looked at two
cases, the first being a left turn lane only(turn lane improvements), and the second being
a full three lane section from Bluford Avenue east to Lakewood Avenue, tapering back to
two lanes east of Lakewood (three lane improvements).
The second case deals with concerns about traffic volumes, school bus traffic, and parent
pick-up/drop-off traffic on Orlando Avenue as a result of the construction of the proposed
new middle school.
We looked at four different alignments, all based on a three lane section east of Bluford
and a future two lane section west of Bluford, that would:
1. Preserve the existing south curbline east of Bluford, thus eliminating any
encroachment into the properties on the south side of Orlando Avenue;
2. Preserve the existing north curbline east of Bluford, in an attempt to save the existing
oak tree at the northeast corner of the Bluford/Orlando intersection;
3. Align the eastbound lane of the future extension of Orlando Avenue west of Bluford
with the eastbound lane of existing Orlando Avenue east of Bluford, and;
4. Construct a three lane section so that it is centered in the existing Orlando Avenue
right-of-way on the east side of Bluford Avenue:
The current construction on Orlando Avenue is split between two contractors,with Gibbs
&Register(G&R) responsible for reconstructing and overlaying the existing road from a
point just east of Bluford all the way to Hammocks Drive, and Prime Construction Group
THE PRIDE OF WEST ORANGE %'
(Prime)responsible for constructing drainage and surface improvements to reduce the
severity of stormwater accumulation at the intersection.
The stormwater that will be collected in inlets which Prime will install at the intersection
will be conveyed under Bluford Avenue and will be discharged into exfiltration chambers
located within the unopened Orlando Ave. right-of-way west of Bluford. These
exfiltration chambers are a temporary measure, designed to solve an immediate problem,
and were designed with the idea that they would be sacrificed when Orlando Avenue is
extended west of Bluford. At that time, a stormwater pond will need to be constructed,
and the water that flows into the exfiltration structures will be directed to the new pond.
This pond will probably be on the property proposed to be acquired for the fire station
complex. The exfiltration chambers were chosen as a temporary measure rather than an
open pond in the future right-of-way, because of concerns that a pond could not be
constructed within the future right-of-way in a manner that would be aesthetically
pleasing to neighboring residents. Due to the narrow width of the right-of-way and the
depth required to install pipes under Bluford from the east side, the pond would be a long,
narrow, fenced ditch.
If we propose to install more paving on Orlando Avenue east of Bluford Avenue than the
current contracts provide for,we will be required by the St. John's River Water
Management District to provide for retention and treatment of stormwater runoff from
that additional pavement. Until a pond site is acquired, the only way to do this is to install
additional exfiltration structures under the future extension of Orlando Avenue, or dig a
larger retention pond in that future right-of-way.
The exfiltration structures in the current contract cost approximately $25,000, and to add
enough to accommodate the runoff from a new turn lane would roughly double that cost,
making the future throw-away cost nearly $50,000. It is important to note that the"throw-
away cost" of$25,000 associated with the current project is covered in large part by the
money we will receive from FDOT for their participation in the project. There is no other
place to put this stormwater runoff,which is the reason DOT has never attempted to
address the intermittent flooding at this intersection. When we approached them with our
plan to place the runoff in the exfiltration system as a means of solving the problem until
a pond site can be found, they agreed to help us by contributing up to $100,000 to this
project and the Franklin Ave. project. To accommodate the runoff from the three lane
improvements, the exfiltration system cost would rise to approximately $125,000.
Despite this rather bleak economic outlook, we examined other factors involved in the
four design schemes noted above.
1. Preserve the existing south curbline, thus eliminating any encroachment into the
properties on the south side of Orlando Avenue:
This option allows the existing homeowners along the south side of Orlando
Avenue to keep their yards and driveways intact,but the large oak tree on the
north side of Orlando Avenue would be removed. This option would result in a
lane offset across Bluford between the three lane section on the east, and a future
two lane section on the west. If Orlando Avenue west of Bluford is constructed as
a three lane section, no offset would occur. This option would require acquisition
of a right-of-way corner clip at the northeast corner of the intersection. This
option is shown graphically on the attached sketch number one
2. Preserve the existing north curbline, in an attempt to save the existing oak tree at the
northeast corner of the Bluford/Orlando intersection:
This option saves the oak tree on the north side,but requires that approximately 8
feet of right-of-way be obtained from the properties on the south side. Two
properties would be affected by the construction of the turn lane, and four
properties would be affected by construction of the three lane improvements. It is
important to note that the three lane improvements would affect some properties
east of Lakewood due to the need to taper back to two lanes. This option would
require acquisition of a right-of-way corner clip at the southeast corner of the
intersection. This option is shown on the attached sketch number two.
3. Align the eastbound lanes of the existing Orlando Avenue and the future extension of
Orlando Avenue west of Bluford:
This option would not require any encroachment into the yards and driveways on
the south side of Orlando Avenue, and would provide lane alignment across
Bluford in the eastbound direction, whether the extension of Orlando Avenue is
constructed as two lanes or three lanes. However, if the Orlando Avenue
extension is constructed as a two lane road, there will be an extreme lane offset
across Bluford for westbound traffic. This option would require acquisition of a
right-of-way corner clip at the northeast corner of the intersection. This option is
shown on attached sketch number three.
4. Construct a three lane section so that it is centered in the existing Orlando Avenue
right-of-way on the east side of Bluford Avenue:
This option would require the removal of the tree on the northeast corner, and
would also encroach into the yards and driveways on the south side of Orlando
Avenue. This option would require acquisition of a right-of-way corner clip on
both the northeast and the southeast corners. Of all of the options, this one has the
greatest impact on the surrounding properties. This option is shown on attached
sketch number four.
Of these four options, option number one would have the least impact in terms of
encroachment into existing yards and driveways. Regardless of which option is chosen, in
order to incorporate this new work into the current construction contracts, we would have
to move quickly. We would have to obtain appraisals of the affected properties
immediately, and if we are unsuccessful in working with the property owners to purchase
the needed right-of-way, we would need to begin condemnation proceedings as quickly
as possible.
The above options all describe a turn lane at Bluford Avenue. If we want to build a three
lane section all the way from Bluford to Lakewood, we will need to obtain additional
right-of-way from the West property in the northeast corner of the Lakewood
Avenue/Orlando Avenue intersection, so that we can transition back to two lanes.
Due to the uncertainty of the future traffic impacts brought about by the proposed
changes to Ocoee Middle School, I would strongly recommend that we not add anything
to the current construction projects. At this point, any change of this magnitude would be
a significant change order. We have assigned our traffic consulting firm the task of
determining the ultimate configuration of Orlando Avenue, taking into account the
potential growth at the middle school, the proposed fire station on the west side of
Bluford Avenue, and other potential development in the area.
We anticipate that this study will be completed within the next thirty days. Once this
study is complete, we will be in a much better position to determine what additional work
is needed in order to address the long-term traffic needs of this roadway segment.. My
concern is that if we add a turn lane now, we will not only pay a premium for the change,
but will come back within a few months to tear part of that work out to construct a full
three lane section from Bluford to Lakewood. If we delay additional work until the final
configuration of Orlando Avenue is known, we will still have to remove some of the
improvements being constructed now,but we will only do it once.
I recommend that no further work be added to the current Orlando Avenue projects at this
time.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused these
presents to be executed the day and year first above written.
STATE OF. FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
By:
District Director of Operations
District Five.
Attest:
Executive Secretary or Notary
Approved as to Form and Legality:
District Counsel
FISCAL WILL STAMP FUNDS APPROVAL:
CITY OF OCOEE
S. Scott Vandergrift, Mayor
Jean Grafton, City Clerk
(seal)
FOR USE AND RELIANCE ONLY BY THE CITY OF
OCOEE, FLORIDA APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
this day of . , 1999.
FOLEY & LARDNER
By: .
City Attorney
APPROVED BY THE OCOEE CITY COMMISSION AT A
MEETING HELD ON , 1999 UNDER AGENDA
ITEM NO.
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MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT CITY OF OCOEE CONTRACT#:AG-997 F.M.#:244298-1-72-04 PAGE 12