TORRINGTON – On Tuesday, April 1, Jeff Harkins, City of Torrington Director of Public Works and Tom Troxel, City of Torrington Water/Wastewater Division Supervisor recommended the Torrington City Council award a construction contract for a slew of street upgrades to the tune of $6,476,582, including a $400,750.42 contingency reserve to Eric Reichert Insulation and Construction of Scottsbluff. 

Background information on the project, according to the city, indicate the project will consist of work on East D Street from Highway 26 to 30th Avenue. The project will include replacing the 6,750 feet of four-inch ductile waterline with eight-inch C900 PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe. The project also encompasses replacing existing 18-inch storm sewer with 2,976 feet of 30-inch RCP (reinforced concrete pipe), 728 feet of 24-inch RCP, 344 feet of 18-inch RCP and 1,208 feet of 15-inch RCP for laterals. Seventeen storm sewer manholes and 36 standard curb inlet catch basins will be replaced. The street will be reconstructed with eight-inch PCC (Portland cement concrete) including curb, gutter, sidewalk and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramps.

The bid opening was held on March 12 and a total of five bids were submitted.

“As you are aware, [Torrington City] Council approved an agreement for professional services with M.C. Schaff and Associates on March 4, 2025, in a not-to-exceed amount of $523,418 for construction administration and inspection of the project,” Harkins and Troxel said in the April letter to the council. “Including this with the recommended project award and contingency gives an overall project total of $7,000,000.”

The project is scheduled for a substantial completion date of June 30, 2026.

A preconstruction conference was held last week between M.C. Schaff and Associates, Eric Reichert Insulation and Construction and City of Torrington departmental employees. 

The meeting was opened by Don Dye of M.C. Schaff and Associates. Dye, the D Street Project manager, called for an introduction of attendees.

“Thanks everybody for coming. Let’s go ahead and get started. The first item is the contractor’s superintendent and kind of discussion of responsibilities,” Dye said. “I don’t know, Eric [Reichert], will it be Larry [Sibal]?”

Reichert confirmed Sibal would fulfill the duties required. 

“So, just like every other project, I mean, we’ll expect either Larry to be on the job or you guys to designate somebody that’s in charge out there at the time, so our inspector can talk to him,” Dye said. 

Reichert expressed he would get Dye a copy of the correct contact information.

Dye expressed news releases would go through the team as well.

“Then, I like to have weekly construction meetings, just held on site. It seems like it goes better if it’s early in the week,” Dye expressed. 

The team decided on a weekly meeting scheduled on site on Mondays at 10 a.m. Dye noted the dates and times could be changed if needed. 

“We can always change in there so it comes up and it’s not working out very well. We’ll usually just do that wherever the construction is going on,” Dye said. “So, if anybody in the room that wants to come to those, please feel free. The next item is shop drawings, mixed design, material certs – I haven’t seen any of that stuff yet. I just want to make sure that – I mean, we’re aware of the Build America, Buy America Act and the certifications. I forwarded that email from Jennifer Russell so it’s going to be very important that we have that. I’ll probably be sending some of those to her review, especially at the start, just to make sure that we’re getting what she wants. Because it sounds like it’s going to be a pretty big deal.”

Dye indicated there are three categories items could fit under: an iron or steel product, construction material or manufactured products. 

“You can use what the convenience items – if you have some stuff that you can’t get certifications on, I think it can be up to 5% of the project,” Dye said. “So, if you have trouble that – I mean, make sure we talk about that first before we start doing that kind of thing.”

Moving on to the next item of discussion, relationship and authority if the project engineer on behalf of the city.

“So, M.C. Schaff will be the owner’s representative on the project. Tyler [Isom] will be out there every day. Either me or Adam will be at the weekly construction meetings. So, anything you have, please come to me or come to Tyler,” Dye said. “Then I’ll take it to Mark [Weis] or Jeff [Harkins] if we need to. We’ll kind of handle it that way. Any items that need either digging, a change order or something like that, come talk to me first. I mean, you’re pretty similar and familiar with how we work. Obviously, the works for conforming the contract documents – the SRF (state revolving fund). Specifications are going to be very important. Construction staking. We’ll be doing the construction staking.”

Dye noted Isom will be testing materials. 

“We’ll be breaking all the cylinders, doing all the proctors, all that back in the lab in Scottsbluff. So, just like usual, the city’s going to pay for the initial test,” Dye said. 

The city will be responsible for the water testing. Weis noted as long as the water passes the tests, the construction is free to continue. Dye noted Nebraska was much different because results took longer. 

“I knew it was kind of different here, but I wasn’t sure exactly how it worked. The next item is kind of the discussion schedule and I’m sure this will take up a little bit of time. I don’t know if you’ve thought about your notes to proceed or what your kind of thinking,” Dye said to Reichert. 

“We’ve got everything built off the 12 [of May]. I think we’re probably going to push that back. Hopefully just a week, but I’ll know more probably by this time next week. Currently, we’ve got it set at a 270-day total project. Got to throw some weather in there,” Reichert said. 

Reichert didn’t add in a weather shutdown, which normally would take place during the project.

“But obviously, we’re going to shut down somewhere there and come back in the spring. It’s kind of the plan,” Reichert said. 

The meeting continued on for the remainer of the 2 p.m. hour. 

“Residents along East D Street will be affected for extended durations as the work progresses. The contractor will close down approximately four blocks at a time so that all removals can safely take place prior to placing the new water main, storm sewer, new curb and gutter, sidewalk and street pavement. Residents will not have front door access to their homes at this time and are encouraged to utilize alley access parking or parking along the nearest avenue,” the city explained in an email this week.

“The City of Torrington realizes this will be a significant inconvenience, but in order for the project to be completed in a timely manner, multiple blocks will have to be closed at a time. Construction will start at Highway 26/85 and proceed north,” the city explained. “The contractor will be notifying residents prior to any street closures so that people can move vehicles, campers, boats, etc. from driveways. During the water line replacement, residents will not have water at times but will be notified prior to any shutoff. Water shutoffs typically last anywhere from a couple of hours to half a day.”