The Sugar Land Regional Airport experiences flooding in the southern segments of the airport runway / taxiway during medium to large storm events, negatively impacting airport operations. Stormwater flows from the southern end of the airport through a concrete swale (an abandoned cattle crossing) under US Hwy 90A. From this concrete swale, stormwater flows to a Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) detention pond that is connected to a 72-in reinforced concrete pipe (RCP), which discharges into Bullhead Bayou.
In 2010, TxDOT made improvements within TxDOT right-of-way (ROW) to allow expansion of Hwy 90A. The channel that drained the airport stormwater was impacted by the work on the TxDOT detention pond, which significantly reduced stormwater conveyance and causes increased flooding on the airport property during medium to large storm events. In 2018, City staff became aware of this change to the TxDOT detention pond and approached TXDOT to address this issue. TxDOT agreed to allow re-connection to the detention pond and worked with City staff to obtain the necessary permits.
The intent of the CIP AP1902 project is to reconnect the airport drainage channel to the TxDOT detention pond and then to the 72-in RCP pipe without causing any negative impacts on existing development while improving the airport drainage system. Design was completed in April 2019. TxDOT issued the construction ROW permit in December 2019.
An Invitation to Bid was advertised on April 1, and April 8, 2020. Bids were opened on April 23, 2020, with nine (9) bids received. The bid summary is as follows:
The qualified low bidder is Lonnie Lischka Company LP, with a bid of $181,894.80. The engineer’s opinion of probable cost is $174,500.00. The project has an available balance of $94,500.00 in CIP AP1902.
Anticipated funding needs are as follows:
| Construction Contract |
$181,894.80 |
| Materials Testing & Eng. Supp. |
15,165.00 |
| 5% Contingency |
9,140.20 |
| Total Funding Needs |
$206,200.00 |
|
|
| Available Budget in AP1902 |
$94,500.00 |
| Budget Amendment from AP1903 |
111,700.00 |
| Total Budget |
$206,200.00 |
The project was budgeted using the design presented and pre-approved by TxDOT in early 2018. However, after the construction documents and plans were submitted for permitting in the summer of 2018, TxDOT requested several modifications to the design, such as lowering the spill elevation into the detention pond, lowering the pilot channel connection to the 72-in Reinforced Concrete Pipe (RCP). These modifications increased the construction cost. Based on these changes, the plan was to move forward with bidding the project and request a budget amendment as needed to complete the project.
The Notice to Proceed for the project is anticipated to be issued early July 2020. The work is to be completed within 90 calendar days, placing substantial completion in October 2020.
The Engineering and Airport Departments recommend that the City Council authorize the execution of a construction contract with Lonnie Lischka Company LP,. for CIP AP1902 U.S. 90A Drainage Improvements for Airport Taxiway, in the amount of $181,894.80; and authorize a budget amendment of $111,700.00 from AP1903 to AP1902.