School Board Approves Cost Overrun Payment for Roadwork

By Amber Lester Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The Williamsburg-James City County School Board approved a request for an additional $213,650 for unforeseen road work at the site of the two new schools at its Tuesday meeting.

Contractor George Nice & Sons, Inc. requested the additional sum, which totals more than 25 percent of the original contract price of $610,736, after hitting several snags in construction work at the intersection of Jolly Pond and Centerville roads.

At Tuesday’s meeting, James City County Capital Projects Coordinator Bernard Farmer said he was asking for the additional funds “sheepishly,” because several of the changed items could have been anticipated prior to the original bids. He added that any additional design to the project had been done at no additional cost. The board agreed to the request and voted unanimously to approve the extra spending.

The unanticipated changes include elevating a fiber optic line along Jolly Pond Road that conflicted with the gradation plan; unplanned improvements to the shoulder of Centerville Road required by the Virginia Department of Transportation; resolving a conflict between a gas line along Centerville Road and the relocation of several fire hydrants; adjusting roadway grades along Centerville Road to avoid decreasing the pavement depth; and various associated adjustments needed after the gradation change.

Board member Jim Kelly, an engineer by trade, said it was clear some of the problems could have been avoided, but thanked Farmer for his comprehensive review and apologies. The total construction estimate is now $782,000.