Politics & Government

More Funds for Cal Oaks/I-15 Project Allotted

Relocating a major sewer line will cost $515,239.

Nearly half a million more dollars will need to be pumped into the California Oaks Road/Interstate 15 interchange project.

Murrieta City Council unanimously approved a change order for $515,239 needed to that carries waste from businesses in and near the Target shopping center.

Relocation of the piping was not part of the original $11.13-million contract awarded to Granite Construction. That's because the sewer line was below the surface of a baseball field that occupied the northwest corner of the shopping center, and was not discovered during the design process.

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"It was not discovered until the contractor moved on site and found the manhole, which was directly underneath the second base," said City Engineer and Public Works Director Pat Thomas.

The line diagonally crosses the path of the new loop on-ramp, according to Thomas. Caltrans does not allow utilities to be constructed into ramps. Therefore, the line, which is part of the Rancho California Water District, will need to be rerouted north and then west of the interchange, he said.

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Thomas did not say whether the complication would delay completion of the project.

Councilman Rick Gibbs said this is the second interchange project in recent years—Interstate 215 at Clinton Keith Road being the first—in which unexpected utilities have brought complications.

"When we did I-215 we had one of those surprises, so the question would be under (the guise) of learning your lessons, when we get to I-15 and Los Alamos, what can we do to not get another surprise?" Gibbs said.

Council members ultimately approved the additional funding, saying the overall project was still under monies allotted for it. The original project estimate was $20 million. Funding for the project is from the State Transportation Improvement Program.

"We are not taking any money from the general fund, and we are well under that number," Councilman Randon Lane pointed out.

A total of $353,328 in other change orders are already owed to Granite Construction for the project.

According to Thomas, total change orders are at 7.8 percent of the original contract, which allowed for up to 10 percent in amendments.

Another $2 million will need to be set aside for landscaping for the project, requiring another vote from City Council. The landscaping work is expected to go out to bid soon.

Mayor Doug McAllister was optimistic bids would come in under $2 million.

"That is a rough guess," McAllister said. "Our message to anyone (bidding) on that would be simply not to bid $2 million."

In other business, Council approved an urgency ordinance restricting political and personal promotional signage to 25 square feet until can be resolved. Council also adopted a new Check back for a story about a change to the Council rotation for serving as mayor.


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