Ferguson Township Public Works Department
Science Park Road Improvement Project
Contract 2006-C5
Follow up to May 30, 2006 Information Meeting with Businesses and
Residents
 
 
Businesses and residents along Science Park Road were invited to attend
a meeting at the Township building on May 30th to discuss concerns
regarding construction of the above project. As you may be aware, this
public improvement project includes a center turn lane, new concrete curb,
stormwater controls, a ten foot asphalt bikepath offset by five feet of grass
along the west side of the road, a traffic signal at Old Gatesburg Road, and
some vertical adjustment of the roadway grade.
 
The Public Works Director, Mr. David Modricker, PE, discussed the
following:
 
TIME LINE:
Prior to 2000  Project included in transportation plan by Trans Assoc.
2001  Project included in Transportation Improvement Fund
2002  Engineering Design contract awarded to Sear Brown
2002  through 2005 Design relocations for all utilities, prepare agreements
with UAJA, SCBWA, Allegheny Power, Verizon
2004  OPEN HOUSE held on October 4, 2004
2005  Right of Way Acquisition
2006  Construction
 
CONTRACT DETAILS:
Construction Contract Amount:  $ 2,979,444.00
Notice to Proceed Date:  April 21, 2006
Contract Duration:  250 days
Completion Date:  December 27, 2006
Contractor:  Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc. responsible for roadway construction,
traffic control, and notification regarding driveway access
 
Design Engineer:  Pennoni Associates
Ferguson Township Engineer and Inspector is Josh Collins
Inspection Assistance from R.G. Stahl, Associate

UTILITY INTERUPTIONS:
Utilities such as SCBWA provide inspection for their work.
Utility providers and their contractors are responsible to coordinate directly
with their customers regarding utility service interruptions.
 
TRAFFIC CONTROL:
A phased traffic control plan was prepared as part of the contract
documents. The plan is stamped by a professional engineer and conforms
with PennDOT and Township standards.
 
MAJOR WORK ACTIVITIES:
 Relocation of utilites
 Installation of stormwater pipes, inlets, basin
 Roadway widening and excavation
 Installation of concrete curb
 Paving
 Install Traffic Signal
 Line striping, signs
 Install stone and pave bikepath
 
OUTREACH AND COMMUNICATION Efforts by the Public Works
Department
 
1) Conducted an Open House and invited every property owner along
Science Park Road and some along Sandy Drive.
2) Made personal contacts with all property owners that were affected
by an easement or right of way acquisition.
3) Sent numerous Press Releases to media outlets including the
television, newspaper, and radio
4) Mailed and hand delivered informational notices to businesses and
residents.
5) Installed 3 Message Boards to provide information to motorists.
6) Provide weekly updates regarding the construction schedule and
traffic patterns on our web page www.twp.ferguson.pa.us
7) Township Engineer available on the job site or by phone to address
questions as they arise during construction
8) Informational Meeting with businesses on May 30, 2006

9) The public works department is starting a list of email addresses to
provide information to those that would like to receive regular emails
on the project. We would like to maintain one email address per
business.
 
COMMENTS AND CONCERNS
 
The majority of the concerns from business were related to:
 
Traffic Delays – While frustrating to motorists, traffic delays cannot be
eliminated. It is estimated that 80 percent of the traffic is cut-through traffic
not doing business on Science Park Road. The group discussed posting
the road ONE-WAY, issuing permits, somehow reducing the cut-through
traffic, educating the public to the meaning of “local traffic only”, changing
the wording to “Business Traffic Only”. The Township will consider these
suggestions, all of which have some merit and some disadvantages. For
example, to post the road ONE-WAY, the following items would need to be
completed: an engineering study to indicate the posting is warranted,
address emergency vehicle access, pass an ordinance at a public meeting,
a revised traffic control plan prepared by a professional engineer in
accordance with PennDOT traffic control standards, adequate transitions
with existing traffic signal intersections, a change order issued to the
contractor, signs and barricades ordered and installed. Sections of the
roadway would still need to be closed at times to accommodate excavation
of the roadway.
 
Driveway Access – The contractor is to notify the property owner if
driveway access is impacted.
 
Ability to see a flagger when exiting a driveway – The contractor is to
provide an adequate number of flaggers to allow a driver exiting a driveway
to know which way traffic is flowing.
 
Utility Interruptions – The utility provider (such as State College Borough
Water Authority or their contractor, GOH in this case), is to provide
advance notice (3 days for a planned water disruption) to customers and
coordinate utility interruptions.
 
Communication with the Township – First point of contact is Josh Collins,
Township Engineer. The Township Engineer is on the job most of the time. 

Second point of contact is David Modricker, Public Works Director. The
Township Manager or elected officials may be contacted if concerns cannot
be satisfactorily addressed at the first or second level. Day to day
operations are best addressed by the Township representative on the job
every day and familiar with contract and field operations. 
The majority of concerns from resident(s) was dust and speeding. These
issues were discussed.