NIAGARA FALLS – City officials have to decide soon how much of the work done by a former contractor on the southern portion of the Lewiston Road reconstruction project they want to rip out and redo.
The city expects to have an estimate for the costs of that work from its consulting engineers “within the next few days,” Corporation Counsel Craig H. Johnson said Tuesday night.
But no matter how much work is going to be done, the long-delayed project is still on schedule to be completed by the end of June or early July, according to the city and the contractor.
At least some of the work done on a one-mile stretch, approximately between Bath and Vanderbilt avenues, was not properly completed by Man O’ Trees of West Seneca, according to the city and the new contractor, Accadia Site Contracting of Depew.
Much of the road base was uneven, said Paul Marinaccio, president of Accadia, who came to the City Council on Tuesday night asking for direction.
Marinaccio said that if he proceeds to put down a top layer of asphalt, there will be cracking in the road or potholes in a year’s time.
“I need some answers,” Marinaccio told reporters after he spoke with the Council.
The issue was known to the city when his firm began work in October, he said.
Council Chairman Glenn A. Choolokian said he wants the city to have the job done right. Otherwise, “the people of DeVeaux would lose their minds” if construction had to happen again next year, he said.
“I don’t want to have to rip up that road next year again,” Choolokian said.
Mayor Paul A. Dyster agreed, saying the city is working to get the best possible job done with the best warranty and for the lowest possible cost.
The city must also consider its ongoing lawsuit against Man O’ Trees and whether any work may jeopardize its position, Dyster said.
In other city matters, the Council:
• Did not approve a proposal from Dyster’s administration to hire a part-time grants administrator for $15,000.
The measure failed to pass, by a vote of 2-2. Councilman Sam Fruscione was absent from the meeting.
Councilwoman Kristen M. Grandinetti said the city could risk losing grant funding already awarded if this work is not completed.
Choolokian said he believes that the work should be picked up by department heads.
• Approved an additional $10,000 for overtime in the Engineering Department, which is currently without a chief.
• Approved $21,530 in overtime in the Department of Public Works for operation of an asphalt zipper machine.
The machine is used to mill and resurface small areas of road where pavement has deteriorated beyond a point where patching is effective.
email: abesecker@buffnews.com
The city expects to have an estimate for the costs of that work from its consulting engineers “within the next few days,” Corporation Counsel Craig H. Johnson said Tuesday night.
But no matter how much work is going to be done, the long-delayed project is still on schedule to be completed by the end of June or early July, according to the city and the contractor.
At least some of the work done on a one-mile stretch, approximately between Bath and Vanderbilt avenues, was not properly completed by Man O’ Trees of West Seneca, according to the city and the new contractor, Accadia Site Contracting of Depew.
Much of the road base was uneven, said Paul Marinaccio, president of Accadia, who came to the City Council on Tuesday night asking for direction.
Marinaccio said that if he proceeds to put down a top layer of asphalt, there will be cracking in the road or potholes in a year’s time.
“I need some answers,” Marinaccio told reporters after he spoke with the Council.
The issue was known to the city when his firm began work in October, he said.
Council Chairman Glenn A. Choolokian said he wants the city to have the job done right. Otherwise, “the people of DeVeaux would lose their minds” if construction had to happen again next year, he said.
“I don’t want to have to rip up that road next year again,” Choolokian said.
Mayor Paul A. Dyster agreed, saying the city is working to get the best possible job done with the best warranty and for the lowest possible cost.
The city must also consider its ongoing lawsuit against Man O’ Trees and whether any work may jeopardize its position, Dyster said.
In other city matters, the Council:
• Did not approve a proposal from Dyster’s administration to hire a part-time grants administrator for $15,000.
The measure failed to pass, by a vote of 2-2. Councilman Sam Fruscione was absent from the meeting.
Councilwoman Kristen M. Grandinetti said the city could risk losing grant funding already awarded if this work is not completed.
Choolokian said he believes that the work should be picked up by department heads.
• Approved an additional $10,000 for overtime in the Engineering Department, which is currently without a chief.
• Approved $21,530 in overtime in the Department of Public Works for operation of an asphalt zipper machine.
The machine is used to mill and resurface small areas of road where pavement has deteriorated beyond a point where patching is effective.
email: abesecker@buffnews.com