Road Improvement, University of California, Irvine, CA

Accord Engineering, Inc. won a competitive bid to perform roadway pavement restoration projects for the University of California, Irvine. As a result of rapid campus build-out in recent years, the excessive construction traffic damaged two major inter-campus roads. In addition to pavement damages, existing parking lot needs new driveways and traffic signs to accommodate the change of traffic pattern. The objective of the project was to restore the road through resurfacing, slurry seal, and/or complete replacement of damaged pavement. In addition to pavement restoration, Accord helped the owner in adding new exit/entrance driveway to an existing parking lot, new speed bumps, traffic signs, new meandering sidewalk, and new landscaped median to cope with the new traffic pattern. This project will improve the in-campus driving condition for now, while awaiting the gradual completion of other build-out construction activities. The following work scopes were performed:

• Slurry-seal over 3,500 feet (135,000 square feet) of roadway.
• Resurface over 1,000 feet (35,000 square feet) of roadway through full-depth AC replacement and road base restoration.
• Add two landscaped medians and associated new curbs and gutters.
• Construct new entrance and exit driveways for existing parking lot
• Construct over 600 feet of new meandering PCC sidewalk
• Restore and add new speed bumps and traffic signs

Challenges and Solutions

The project was located in a very busy university campus. The construction was conducted during active school months. Effective traffic control and public safety protection became preeminent issues throughout the construction. Additionally, UCI school officials kept a very close watch on the construction site maintenance to assure that the construction activities did not impact the appearance of the school environment. The work sequence also requires careful planning to divert and maintain the vehicular as well as pedestrian traffic flow.

Accord worked closely with the UCI project manager in interfacing with the school personnel and kept good care of the work area to not impact the school activities.

The project was completed on time and within the budget without incidents. The work scope was later increased by UCI to extend the road restoration and parking lot improvement.