What Property Owners Need to Know
* Property owners are encouraged to document the condition of their homes, inside and out, prior to construction. It is highly recommended that they use cameras or videos that display the date, to show exactly how the home appeared before construction. In the event that building or structural damage does occur, any claims could be supported with photo-video documentation.
* Crews will close off half of the street in front of your house during sewer and water main work. A lane will be left open for traffic. Access to garages will be maintained except when excavating in front of driveways. This construction plan may change in a an effort to ave trees.
* During the sewer and water main work, residents can expect a disruption in water service twice for four to six hours. Residents will be notified 24 hours prior to water shut-off. Also, there will be disruption at individual households when their water service is transferred from the old water main to the new main. The transfer will take approximately two hours and residents will be notified two hours before the transfer takes place.
* It is recommended that whenever water service is turned off and back on again that residents flush the lines by running water until it appears clear.
* When work on the streets is complete, crews will replace topsoil and sod, and make any repairs to damaged sprinklers. The city asks that sprinkler heads be marked with flags when work comes to your area to help avoid damage. Also, we further request that the property owner shall remove and salvage any “classic” or “special” sprinkler heads between the curb and sidewalk.
* Trash pickup will continue as scheduled and residents should continue to put out their trash and recycling carts as usual. Otherwise, you will be given special instructions in advance of your trash day.
SCHEDULE
1. What are the normal construction hours?
Hours may vary depending on scheduled activity and weather, but in general working hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some Saturdays may be necessary as well.
2. Will construction take place one block at a time?
Construction will take place one street at a time on alternate streets to allow parking.
3. Where will residents park when driveways are not available?
Residents can park on alternate streets, or at corner side streets not under construction. Or they may coordinate with neighbors that have access to their driveways. City-owned lots, like the one at Crowley Park, will be made available to residents for parking their vehicles when their driveways are not accessible.
4. How will residents know which two weeks the concrete is curing and they will not be able to drive on their street?
Construction schedules will be updated on this website throughout the construction season. Also, notices regarding paving are delivered to residents a few days ahead of the paving start time.
5. Understanding the construction schedule is tentative based on weather, etc., how will changes to the construction schedule be communicated?
Information regarding this project will be reviewed periodically and the most current schedule will be posted on this website.
6. How will trash pickup be handled?
Trash pickup will continue, however, depending on construction activity, it may be necessary to bring the carts across the street for pick up.
7. Will the gas company be doing any work in the area?
Most work by DTE/Michcon to replace gas mains has been conducted ahead of the CSO project, but they may to need to replace some mains on an as-needed basis during the same time the sewer work is being done. The City has no involvement in gas main replacement, aside from minimal coordination. According to DTE, they will contact residents at individual houses to schedule upgrades if necessary.
NOTE: If you smell gas at any time, immediately call DTE/Michcon at 800-947-5000.
SAFETY/ACCESS
8. What safety precautions will be taken for those leaving and coming home during later and early hours while cars are parked on streets other than your own? Will there be extra security for vehicles while parked on streets during constructions?
Police and Fire departments are notified of upcoming construction schedules. They do increase patrol in these areas for protection of residents, construction equipment, etc. And, while a car should be just as safe around the block as in front of your house, if you feel the need, or notice something suspect, call the police.
9. Is the city advising emergency responders of this construction plan? Will they be able to respond if needed?
Police and Fire departments will be notified of the upcoming construction season. Access will be available for them during construction.
10. Is there a period of time where residents will not have access to their driveways/garages?
Yes. For the majority of the project, access to driveways will be maintained with stone, except when crews are excavating in front of driveways. There will be a period of up to 14 days where residents will not have access to their driveways as concrete is poured and cured in the streets and driveway aprons. Residents will be notified prior to this period.
11. What accommodations are being made for handicapped residents?
Transportation between car and home will be provided for handicapped residents, and other needs will be addressed to lessen the inconvenience faced by residents with disabilities. To arrange for necessary accommodations or to raise any other questions or concerns, please call the City’s onsite Construction Engineering Technician, Dylan Abbas at (313) 801-8575.
WATER
12. What is the plan to prevent contaminants from entering the water supply during the change over to new water mains? How does the City make sure water is safe when we turn it on after the service is transferred to the new main?
The new water main is constructed, flushed and chlorinated. The water is then tested, by a certified laboratory, for bacteria and chlorine levels prior to transferring any of the existing services.
PIPES
13. Where will the new water mains be located?
The location of the new water main varies from street to street. In general, it is proposed close to the existing water main and in the street or near the curb. There are some exceptions. For specific locations, the plans are available for review at the Dearborn Administrative Center.
14. Should homeowners change their water line from their house at this time? Will homeowners be notified if they have lead pipes?
Lead services will be replaced within the City right-of-way with copper. The water service material is not known until it is exposed. However, residents can check the meter inside their house to see the incoming pipe which, in general, is the same material as the pipe between the lead and their house. To find out material type of their pipe, residents also can contact the Engineering Division after service has been transferred. It is at the property owner’s discretion to change the pipe. As long as property owners flush the stale or stagnant water from their water pipe before use, it is not necessary to replace the lead water lines.
15. Will homeowners have the opportunity to clean their sewer line from the house before new connections are made? How will information be communicated?
During construction, the sewer lead is checked at the point of connection. The contractor generally can see into the lead about 10-12 ft. if there are no bends. If a potential blockage or roots are noticed, the resident is notified. Residents may choose to have the sewer lead cleaned by their own contractor prior to connection. This may be coordinated by checking the construction schedule on the City’s website.
16. What if the sewer lead is under a tree, interfering with the roots?
During construction, if the sewer lead is found to be under a tree, residents will be given the option of inserting a 4-inch PVC liner, with written approval, in the existing lead. This inhibits roots from infiltrating the lead. Or the lead may be re-routed around tree. If residents think they may be out of town during sewer work, they may wish to call Construction Engineering Technician Dylan Abbas at (313) 801-8575 to provide a contact number or person who can represent the resident during construction.
17. Are there any concerns about leaving the existing water pipes in the ground? Will there be sinkholes?
The existing water main is a smaller 6 inch pipe and the City has not experienced any sinkholes or other problems when allowing these to remain in the ground after construction.
PAVEMENT AND SIDEWALKS
18. Will driveway aprons be replaced with same size aprons?
Yes, driveway aprons will be replaced with the same size as it was prior to construction, with concrete only.
19. What sidewalks will be replaced and why?
Most of the sidewalks that must be replaced are to meet American with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Sidewalks must have maximum 2% cross slope, which is the slope pitched toward the roadway, and maximum 8% longitudinal slope. In order to achieve 2% cross slopes, some driveways on the private side of the sidewalk will need to be removed, regraded and replaced, along with the sidewalk to meet these slope requirements. If there is a question about a specific area, the plans are available for review at the DAC.
20. Is there any reason homeowners will be responsible to pay for sidewalk replacement?
Sidewalk removed as part of the project will be included in project costs at no expense to the homeowner. If the homeowner individually contracts to replace any sidewalk outside project limits, they will be responsible for the costs.
21. Can residents request additional concrete work be done while the crew is in the area? If homeowners choose to replace portions of sidewalk or driveway (at their expense) not affected by this project, does the make recommendations for contractors?
Some contractors will agree to perform private work while in the area. It will be at the contractor’s discretion as to whether they will do work beyond the contract limits. The City does not contract, nor supervise, this work, nor does it make recommendations.
22. Will brick paver driveways and secondary walkways be replaced in like kind?
No. The contractor will replace all drives and walks with concrete. If a resident chooses to keep pavers, it is recommended they remove them prior to construction and replace pavers themselves following construction.
23. Is there a plan to angle new curbs in order to prevent damage to tires?
The City standards for curbs and gutters are being utilized on new roads, which are 7-inch curbs. The curb height allows for future maintenance overlays on the roads while still providing enough depth for a gutter line.
24. Why have some streets been replaced in the past with partial concrete and asphalt compared to full width concrete?
In general, the type of material used to replace road has to do with where the utility work is located and the amount of disruption. In this case, the roads will be totally removed for utility construction and replaced with all concrete.
SPRINKLERS
25. How will sprinkler systems be handled? When should they be marked or removed? What is the timing for replacement?
The contractor is responsible to repair sprinklers it disrupts during construction. It is recommended the zone in the area between the curb and sidewalk be turned off during construction. Also, since there are no City records for sprinkler locations, it is recommended the property owner locate and flag sprinkler heads so the contractor is aware of locations. It is also suggested that sprinkler heads that are special or non-standard be removed prior to construction, as they can be hard to replace. Sprinklers should be marked, with flags or paint, or removed prior to construction on the street. The contractor will replace sprinklers, after paving, as part of restoration activities.
26. After sprinkler work is completed, can homeowners hire their own contractor to evaluate and ensure sprinkler replacement has been done correctly? Will the homeowner’s expense be reimbursed by City?
Sprinkler repairs are included as part of the project cost and the contractor must be provided the opportunity to repair the system. The City will not reimburse work “checked” by another contractor; however residents may choose to have their contractor review work at their own cost. Only in very unusual circumstances has the City reimbursed residents for repairs–especially in cases where the general contractor failed to provide timely repairs to the sprinkler system. In such cases, a minimum of three quotes from licensed contractors must be provided and approved by City of Dearborn prior to work being done. Work done without City approval will not be reimbursed.
COST
27. What is the tax impact for this project?
It is covered under the current millage approved for the CSO project by voters in 2004.
CONTRACTOR
28. Has the City done similar projects in the past?
The City has been working on similar projects for the past 10 years.
29. Some concrete street replacement in the City have had problems, are you using the same contractors for this project?
30. Will the construction cause residents to feel vibrations while in their homes? The City has not received complaints regarding vibrations from residents in areas where other CSO separation projects have taken place, but with a project of his scope, it is possible that residents might feel minor vibrations.
31. Is the City aware of any damage to a house on past projects due to use of heavy equipment? What should we do to guarantee a repair if something occurs?
The City is not aware of any damages to homes due to heavy equipment. The City takes video to document conditions of sidewalks, driveways, etc. prior to construction. If property owners are concerned, they are encouraged to document the conditions of their homes, inside and out, prior to construction. It is highly recommended that residents use cameras or videos that display the date, to show exactly how the home appeared before construction. Photo/video documentation could be used to support claims.
MISCELLANEOUS
32. Will topsoil and sod replacement be of a high quality?
Yes, the contractor is required to follow the project specifications, which require high quality top soil and sod.
33. What precautions are planned to prevent losing trees? What reasons would result in losing a tree?
During the design phase, effort is made to avoid trees when determining utility locations. In past projects, tree removal has been kept to a minimum. However, due to house lead locations and proximity to curbs, some trees may have to have root systems cut. The City has staff to evaluate and monitor trees after construction as well. Residents whose trees are scheduled to be removed as part of the 2015 phase of the project have already been notified.
34. Will the City replace trees that have been removed for this project?
Yes, any trees that are removed during this project will be replaced by the City at no cost to residents. Residents will be able to select from roughly 10-12 varieties of trees made available through the Dearborn Department of Public Works’ tree planting program. If a resident’s easement has been altered and it is determined that it can no longer support the healthy growth of a tree, the City will place a tree in the resident’s yard if desired. In an effort to re-forest the area, residents who currently do not have trees on their easement will also be eligible to receive a free tree through the City program.
35. Has the City noticed any increase in rodent activity during past CSO projects?
No, these projects have not led to increased sightings of rats or other vermin. Rats are primarily attracted to food and shelter sources, so taking standard precautions to make sure garbage is properly sealed and your entire premises is kept clean should combat rodent populations. If you do see any rats in your area, please call the City’s rodent/pest control hotline at (313) 943-2099.
36. What are the advantages of the CSO Sewer Separation over the caisson project?
The CSO project costs less money and it adds the benefit of new roads, sewers, sidewalks and water mains.
Dearborn Construction Updates | City of Dearborn, Mich. 