Q: Will you be able to match (color/type) my driveway if you remove a piece of it?
A: The City or its Contractor will make every effort to match the existing driveway. This isn't always possible due to the age of the existing driveway materials.
Q: Are crews going to dig in my yard?
A: We will excavate to a point just upstream of the sanitary sewer cleanout. The City will restore your yard to pre-project conditions.
Q: Are the workmen allowed to store materials (soil, pipe, rock, equipment, etc.) in City streets?
A: Yes, the Municipal Code allows the public right of way (street) to be used for Contractor storage while work is occurring in the immediate vicinity of the stored materials.
Q: Are crews going to remove the spray paint marks from the street, sidewalk, and my driveway? If so, when?
A: Yes, the Contractor is responsible for removing all spray paint marks as part of the project work. The City insures performance of this aspect of the project by retaining funds payable to the Contractor until completion of the project work.
Q: What can I do if my sprinkler system is damaged?
A: Please contact the Project Engineer. The Project Engineer will verify that sprinkler system was damaged by the project work. The Contractor is responsible for damage caused by the project work and is required to repair damage caused by its work.
Q: Will the City replace damaged landscaping?
A: The City routinely videotapes the pre-project physical condition of the public right of way and the adjacent private property improvements. All landscaping damaged by the Contractor will be repaired/replaced. The Contractor will attempt to match the type and size of damaged plants. It isn't always possible to replace mature plants, as they are not available, but the Contractor and City will attempt to satisfy the customer.
Q: What are the daily work hours for construction?
A: The contract for this work designates work hours to be 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. unless the work involves major arterials. The Contractor may arrive at the site earlier than this time but equipment should not be started until 8:00 a.m. or later. Occasionally unanticipated work must be performed which requires the Contractor to work beyond 5:00 p.m., but this should be very infrequent.
Q: Why is a portable toilet in front of my house?
A: The Contractor must provide sanitary facilities for its workers. The portable toilet will be moved as the project work progresses through your neighborhood. If this facility is not maintained or you wish it to be moved to another location, please contact the Project Engineer.
Q: How often does the Contractor clean the work site?
A: The Contractor cleans the work site at the end of each workday. If you notice that the job site is not being cleaned on a daily basis, please contact the Project Engineer.
Q: The steel plate in front of my house is rocking, creating noise. What can I do about it?
A: Please contact the Project Engineer. The Project Engineer will have the Contractor shim the plate edges to keep the plate from rocking. Temporary asphalt will also be placed around the edges.
Q: Workers left trash in my yard. How do I get them to clean it up?
A: Please contact the Project Engineer to have this matter corrected. Work site conditions should be kept clean. The Project Engineer will contact the Contractor to address this issue.
Q: Is the Contractor allowed to use water from my house?
A: No. The Contractor is not allowed to use your water unless he gains your consent. If you notice that the Contractor is using your water without your consent, please contact the Project Engineer.
Q: When will the Underground Service Alert (USA) marks be removed?
A: At project completion, a punch list of outstanding items is generated before the project completion notice is filed with the County. If the Contractor has not removed all spray paint markings, the work will be included in the project punch list. The final payment for the contract will not be made until the spray paint marks are removed.
Pavement Restoration on Major Capital Improvement Projects
Q: When will the street pavement be restored as part of the project work?
A: Typically, all pavement repairs will occur within two weeks after construction activity related to the sewer main and services are complete, weather permitting.
Q: When will street/traffic markings (stop bars, cross walk striping, bike lane striping, etc.) be replaced?
A: Painting of the street markings is one of the last activities of a sewer main replacement project. To insure that there will not be any further excavation in the area this portion of the work is delayed until approximately four weeks after all sewer main replacement construction activities have been completed.
Q: When will my street be repaved?
A: Contact the Public Works Department Engineering Section to get a schedule for repaving of City streets. The contact number is (650) 329-2151.
Q: Why doesn't the repaving look finished?
A: Project paving occurs in two steps, First, temporary cold asphalt mix is placed on the backfilled area to temporarily restore the roadway service. The temporary asphalt is removed and final asphalt paving is installed over the trench. The Contractor attempts to match the existing pavement but this isn't always possible. Older pavement tends to become "gray" and new asphalt is darker in color. If your street is concrete, steel plates will be placed on top of the trench in order for the concrete base to cure, prior to final restoration. All pavement repairs are installed to city standards, inspected and approved by the Public Works Department prior to completion of the contract and before final payment is made to the Contractor.
