Site Showing QA and summary Blessing Rd EWP.pdf

Notes of Blessing Rd Site Showing Proceedings 4/21/2026 10:31 AM – 11:35 AM

Site showing took place huddled around the tailgate of the NRCS engineering truck at the north end of the project site. Site showing was led by Logan Veley NRCS Area 5 engineer and primary COR. Adrean Evans NRCS engineer will be the alternate COR. Site showing started at 10:31 AM. Logan introduced the federal NRCS staff present, Greg Wells Acting State Conservation Engineer, Ryan Jenkins Gallia County Natural Resource Specialist and Primary Inspector, and Conlin Halterman Gallia County Soil Conservationist.

Logan read the complete information above on Pages 1-4 highlighting the criteria in the solicitation. At the start it was noted that an updated solicitation including the SF 1442 cover page and the corrected title to the bid schedule had been posted the morning of 4/21/2026. The solicitation information was reviewed including the date and time bids are due. Location of the instructions for submission of bids was shown. The bonding requirements were outlined. For SF 1442, it was mentioned to include the summation of the bid in block 17 and to not complete any cells below 20c. It was reminded to please check the math and to not round.

The solicitation was noted as work set aside for small businesses under $45 million.

Department of Labor wage rates will apply for the job and weekly certified payrolls will be required to be submitted to the COR. The performance time for the job is 55 days.

Multiple holidays may fall within the performance period. Memorial Day and Juneteenth may be worked by the contractor with prior written permission as outlined in the solicitation.

Independence Day is a required nonworking holiday. Friday July 3rd is the observed federal holiday, and July 4th is on Saturday. Both days (July 3rd and July 4th) will be nonworking days.

Submittals for the preconstruction meeting including safety plan, construction schedule, etc. were reviewed. The contractor has 10 calendar days from award to provide a payment bond.

Variation in Estimated Quantities clause was explained as applicable to the project. Reviewed the NRCS supplement to OSHA requirements and the safety plan requirements including the first aid certification.

Hardat requirements were announced and signage requirements. Information regarding utilities and making the Ohio 811 Call Before You Dig was announced and covered in further detail in the specs and drawings.

Work limits were pointed out on site and the identifying landmarks called out on the drawings. The 6 bid items in the bid schedule were read through.

The items of work for each specification was read and covered. Each spec method and payment section was read. Starting with Spec 4 Channel Clearing and Shaping. Stumps and root wads on the drawings were pointed out on the site. A pollution control plan was identified to be submitted by the contractor at the preconstruction meeting. Native grass seeding in front of the wall as per the specs was reviewed due to the scenic river requirements. Erosion control blanket was noted as required by the drawings and specs on the slope in front of the wall.

Construction traffic was noted to not cross Blessing Rd Bridge (north of the site). Personal vehicles and unloaded pickup trucks are allowed, but material and equipment must access the site from the south on Smokey Row Rd. The bridge rating and sharp turn at the end of the bridge restrict usage for construction traffic.

Utility specific information was covered. Gallia Rural Water should be contacted directly per the drawings and specs prior to construction and prior to the start of sheet pile installation.

There is a water main west of the road. Gallia Rural Water asked for this notice to prepare in the event that any leaks may be induced by the nearby construction operations. Buckeye Rural Electric (BRE) employees were on site. Contractor should coordinate directly with BRE. The cost of electric relocation is to be included in Bid Item 1 – Mobilization and Demobilization.

This is the responsibility of the contractor to arrange and pay for. BRE employees spoke.

Matthew Nibert’s contact information was shared (as shown on the drawings and specs). Or employees on the sign-in sheet could be contacted alternatively. Work order to reference is 382-

978. BRE estimated a one-week lead time would be needed. At this time BRE estimated roughly $6,000-7,000 for an updated estimate. However, later conversation outlined below established that this estimate may not be accurate. Please reference the BRE information described below.

Contractors are responsible for and shall contact BRE directly to receive the most up-to-date and accurate estimate for the electric relocation to include in their bid.

The concrete blocks and reflectors along Blessing Rd should be stockpiled in the work limits for later collection by Green Township. The contractor should contact Matthew Smith with ODNR Scenic Rivers per the drawings and specifications. Logan Veley (COR) noted that he has been in contact with Matthew Smith at ODNR previously and offered to assist the contractor with contacting Matthew Smith. Communication between the COR and the contractor will be made to notify ODNR prior to the start of construction. It was noted that because the site is a scenic river, Raccoon Creek may experience recreational usage and safety considerations should be made with respect to this.

Blessing Rd can be closed during the duration of the project. The township should be contacted per the specifications. The locations of signage were identified as described in the work limits. Private property access (local access) that needs to be maintained was read as outlined in the drawings and specs. Additional private property access that was discussed during the site showing Q&A session is outlined below.

While the work is primarily out of water work, a dewatering plan is required for submittal at the preconstruction meeting. The piling specifications were read and shared. NRCS will assist with the layout of the wall and baseline. The baseline was shown on site as the west edge of Blessing Rd. The requirements for the holes cut in the sheet pile tie-backs for the drain pipe were covered as described in the specs. The required offset for equipment operation to the road face of the sheet pile wall was identified. The method for payment was discussed. A question was asked about the piling payment method and is provided below in the Q&A.

Excavation and earthfill specs were covered. Unused excavated materials are to be disposed of offsite at an environmentally responsible site.

Payment for drainfill quantities under both riprap bid items are subsidiary to the respective riprap bid item. Drainfill behind the piling wall (backfill to the road side) is Bid Item 6.

There are two separate Rock Riprap Bid Items. Bid Item 4 is for the Rock Riprap Transitions at each end of the sheet pile wall. Bid Item 5 is for the Rock Riprap Toe at the toe of the slope in front of the wall. ODOT Type C riprap must be sourced from ODOT approved riprap suppliers. Smaller aggregate shall not be used to line truck beds to prevent contamination of the riprap. Requirements of the geotextile fabric were outlined.

Discussion of the engineering drawings commenced. Utility information on the cover page was outlined. Matthew Smith’s ODNR contact information was pointed out. The in-water work note was discussed as being applicable for a specific permit. Permitting for the Blessing Rd site was under the Nationwide 37 permit. Work can begin prior to June 30th. Plan view notes on the top left of Sheet 2 were discussed. Construction equipment shall not be operated within 5’ of the road-side face of the sheet pile wall. With Raccoon Creek potentially experiencing recreational use, the job site shall be left in a safe configuration when NRCS and the contractor are off-site.

The pile wall, stump/root wad, and riprap locations were shown on the plan view and on site.

The culvert pipe was pointed out on the site. NRCS will assist with baseline establishment and reestablishing or creating new benchmarks. The tree clearing work was noted as previously completed by Green Township. The work limits, road closure locations, and private addresses were pointed out on Sheet 3 and on the site. The pile top elevations and pipe were shown on the Sheet 4 profile. Groups of pile lengths and tieback piles were shown on the Sheet 5 tables. The corner piles, earthfill locations, and riprap locations were shown on the section views Sheets 6-9.

Riprap toe and transition details were covered on Sheet 10. The #57 backfill, nonwoven geotextile, and pipe detail along with the pipe outlet detail were shown. The sheet pile requirements and pile cap requirements were shown on the drawings. The depth to bedrock from the geologic investigation was shown on the drawings. Lastly, the erosion control blanket detail page for the earth slope in front of the sheet pile wall was shown.

Logan asked if there were any questions at that time. No questions were asked. The group elected to walk the length of the site. Questions in the Q&A were asked and are listed below in the Q&A section. The approximate wall location at Sta. 2+00 was pointed out on the site.

During this walk of the site and Q&A, Greg Wells held conversation with BRE regarding their approach to relocating the overhead electric line. The original estimate did not include work to relocate the line traversing across Raccoon Creek. At the time of the site visit, BRE proposed multiple temporary and permanent solutions that they may take to update the estimate and plan for relocation of the utilities. This decision by BRE will likely cause the $6,000-7,000 rough estimate provided as a response by them earlier in the site showing to be inaccurate. To receive the most accurate and updated relocation plan for the BRE overhead lines, the contractor is responsible for contracting BRE directly as outlined in the drawings and specifications to include the utility relocation cost in the bid. Greg verbally explained this to all attendees.

Greg Wells also spoke to the excavation contractor that was present in the pasture west of the Blessing Rd site. The contractor mentioned that a new house and driveway construction is ongoing and will be occurring over the coming months. The contract information of the new landowner was provided to the COR. Greg verbally explained this to all attendees. Information regarding the requirements of this private property construction and added local traffic requirements is provided in the Q&A section below.

The site showing was called to close at 11:35 AM.

Question and Answers From the Site Showing

Q1) Independence Day is a required nonworking day as outlined in the solicitation. July 4th is on a Saturday, and Friday, July 3rd is the observed federal holiday. What days will be required nonworking days?

A1) Both days, Friday July 3rd and Saturday July 4th will be required nonworking days.

Q2) For Bid Item 3 – Piling, pile is measured and paid by the linear foot. Is this for total length of each driven pile sheet or is the measurement the total length of the pile pairs (2 sheets per pair)?

A2) Bid Item 3 is paid by Method 3 in Section 13 of Specification 13 – Piling. The length of each type and kind of pile driven is computed to the nearest foot. This is calculated as the difference between the measured length of pile before driving and the measured length of pile cut off after driving. The measured quantity is the total length of each driven pile sheet calculated.

Q3) What is the elevation change between the road surface and the water level?

A3) This is best shown in the section views of the engineering drawings (Sheets 6-9). Road elevation varies but the elevation difference at each station can be measured and calculated. In general, the stream low flow water level is approximately 20’ below the road.

Q4) Bedrock is not anticipated to be encountered per the geologic investigation and report. If a rock fragment or stinger (as termed by the geologist) is encountered during pile driving that causes refusal of the pile before the design pile depth is achieved, what is the course of action?

A4) The NRCS inspector should be informed of the situation as soon as safe and viable. The

COR / NRCS engineer should be contacted by the contractor and inspector. The COR / NRCS engineer will make the call regarding the corrective actions needed on a case-by-case basis. Constraints and factors of safety in the design would be consulted to advise the decision. New target pile depths and/or constraints of equipment proximity to the road-side face of the wall (i.e. surcharge on the wall), may be enforced along reaches of pile refusal until 4 consecutive pile sheets can be driven to design depth after the stinger or reach of refusal.

Q5) Is the wall straight (plan view)?

A5) No. The wall is not straight. The plan view shows a slight curve in the wall that tracks the curve in Blessing Rd. Offsets from the baseline for each pile pair are shown on Sheet 5 of the engineering drawings. Curves in the wall are gradual and are within the joint limits of the pile pairs. Corner piles will be used for the tie-back piles as shown in the drawings.

The wall does have three reaches of the same top elevation as shown on the profile on Sheet 4 and in the table on Sheet 5 of the engineering drawings.

Q6) How will the overhead electric lines be relocated?

A6) The contractor is responsible for contacting Buckeye Rural Electric directly to coordinate the relocation and receive the estimate for the relocation cost of the overhead electric lines. Buckeye Rural Electric is likely adjusting their line relocation plan and will be developing an updated cost estimate for the work. The contractor should contact Buckeye Rural Electric directly to receive the most up-to-date work plan and estimate to include in the bid (within Bid Item 1 – Mobilization and Demobilization). Contact information for Buckeye Rural Electric is provided in the drawings and specs. The work order to reference is 382-978.

Q7) Is there a new driveway being constructed on Blessing Rd in the pasture west of the work site and road? Is a house being built in the field?

A7) At the time of the site showing, it was identified that earthwork for a new home construction was beginning west of the Blessing Rd project site. A contractor was on site with a dozer grading the house area. The driveway had been rough graded and is planned to be connected to Blessing Rd in the coming weeks. Construction on the home is planned in the upcoming months.

The new home construction is located at approximately 38.764280, -82.318752. The new driveway will be connected to Blessing Rd at approximately 38.764517, -82.316573.

To accommodate the new house construction, local traffic must be maintained from Smokey Row Rd between the barn driveway at 2430 Blessing Rd, Patriot, OH 45658 and the south corner access of the pasture field located at 38.763302, -82.317313. This will allow residential and construction access for the new house construction. The sketch below shows these locations.

Q8) How is cellular reception at the site?

A8) Cellphone signal can be inconsistent at the work site. There are days signal is better than others and is dependent on the carrier. Some attendees at the site showing did have cell phone signal. Signal is more consistently available on Blessing Rd east of the Blessing Rd bridge where the road crests the hill.