A trench that collapsed during seismic testing at the downtown
fire station in March added $16,340 to the cost, bringing the total
for the Hollister Redevelopment Agency to nearly $150,000.
A trench that collapsed during seismic testing at the downtown fire station in March added $16,340 to the cost, bringing the total for the Hollister Redevelopment Agency to nearly $150,000.
A contractor working on the trenching about a month ago had to halt the project when the trench walls became unstable and collapsed in two places.
Earth Systems Pacific attributed the problem to that trench location being “unknowingly located adjacent to an unmarked abandoned water line that coincided with the southern limit of what appears to be repair or upgrade of the pavement section,” according to a letter from the contractor to city development official William Avera.
To stabilize the upper section of the trench, the contractor increased the width from three feet to six feet while centering it on the abandoned water line,” according to the letter requesting a change order. That trench next to the fire station on Fifth Street is 60 feet in length.
Avera said there are no signs at this point of seismic instability causing a problem with the project.
Hollister leaders are moving ahead on the $5 million fire station reconstruction to replace the aging building where the department maintains its headquarters. They hope to have a request for bids on construction out in the fall on the 18-month project.
The original contract with Earth Systems on the seismic work – required because the site is within a highly-active fault zone – was set to cost $130,000, Avera has said. Council members officially approved the additional allocation while acting as the RDA board last week.
