Linton Rd Bridge - Maybe before school starts

[Mike Cork]

Here are the meeting minutes from the last Bossier Parish Police Jury meeting. I'll highlight a couple things that struck me the wrong way

- They are now asking for extra days because of bad weather. We have been in a drought for the last 14 months and now on the back side of all this, because they were taking their sweet ass one man a day time on this job, they want a weather delay. It's not like we've had days on end of rain, we've had squall lines. If they would have been working it like a real job up front they would be ahead of the game here and wouldn't be hurt by a rain day and a dry day. LET'S NOT FORGET, they are supposed to be complete already so the last two weeks of bad weather should have had a big fat ZERO effect on their completion. If these days are authorized, you all really need to look into who you are voting for your district representatives. One can say, "they don't work for the DOTD! But the DOTD works for them! Heads should be on the chopping block. I have over 20 years in government service, if I performed like everyone in this chain, I would be in Leavenworth making little rocks out of big rocks... If I'm the only one complaining about this nothing will change....

- When the bridge is supposed to be open and it's not complete, this is when they call the Chief Engineer and tell them how much we want this done in strict compliance with the contract. Well the contract allows for so many days? WTH they are not following the contract. No leniency may occur in other projects? REALLY the state has more projects with this company OMG. However , shouldn't all of this been made clear about 6 months ago when it was obvious they weren't going to make it? Or does our DOTD just let the project run and let's see what it looks like when they are supposed to be done? Well we all know DOTD has been out there on a regular basis because they have to inspect the work. Ask DOTD and they say Police Jury, complain to the Police Jury and they say DOTD... doesn't matter none of them appear to live on the wrong side of this bridge. FYI, I've spoke to one of the DOTD crews and if they read this, I know it's not your fault I'm speaking of the DOTD and who ever answers the phone and emails when I call, and the Mr. North (who I didn't personally speak too). The leadership in the DOTD should be tracking these bridges and roads and their status. If nothing else to make sure a company that fails as miserably as this one isn't hired again.

- Let's see if the Police Jury "BUYS" any additional work crews. As I've stated in other places. This is not the Police Jury's first rodeo, they approve these kind of projects at nearly every meeting. Why didn't they ensure there were penalties in this project? We all know they didn't because of Mr. North's statement for the Police Jury to pay for additional workers. They have left theirselves wide open to keep paying the snake oil salesman.... What's in place to stop this contractor from heading to Hawaii with all his people for a month long vacation on the Bossier Parish Police Jury?

- So now they say first or second week of August? Then an additional weather days (if approved) makes it the middle of September. Hope you're not happy with our current state and parish representatives, I will be pushing for change myself...

I'll get off my soap box, you all can read Mr. North's statement below (doesn't appear that the Police Jury asked any questions? At least the minutes didn't reflect any. Think about that for a minute? Our representatives in the Police Jury didn't ask ANY questions? Apparently this is a big joke to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, he closed his comments with a 300 year statement and I'm sure everyone had a good chuckle (speculation on my part as I'm not very happy and assuming the worst) Notice though, he used the word "hopefully" so apparently along with no penalties there is also no warranty. (this is also speculation on my part)

Mr. David North, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, provided a report on the Linton Road Bridge over Black Bayou project. He stated that a revised schedule was recently received which provides a new anticipated completion date in late July of 2022. He further stated that completion of the bridge will be close to the time for school beginning in early August.
Mr. North stated that he is willing to answer any questions that he can about the Linton Road Bridge over Black Bayou project. He stated that they are pushing the contractor as much as possible to complete the project. He further stated that DOTD has a contract with the contractor and therefore cannot arbitrarily determine what the contractor does. Mr. North stated he can order the contractor to add more workers on the project if the police jury is willing to pay the additional charges.
Mr. North stated that he spoke with the Chief Engineer yesterday in Baton Rouge about the Linton Road Bridge project and he assured the Chief Engineer that it was the District's desire to have this contract run strictly by the letter of the contract. He stated that there would not be leniencies that may occur in other projects.
Mr. North stated that contractually the contractor has some options and the State recently approved 34 additional contract days by a change order due to the unavailability of materials. He stated that the concrete supplier could not get fly ash which is a necessary component in concrete and consequently causing a legitimate delay.
Mr. North stated that the project is a calendar day project, but the contract includes provisions for inclement weather delays. He stated that the contractor has requested additional contract days due to inclement weather delays. He provided information on the process of determining if additional contract days are granted for inclement weather delays.
Mr. North stated that the contractor's request for additional contract days due to inclement weather is under review at this time.
Mr. North stated that the Linton Road Bridge is going to be a nice bridge and hopefully will last for 300 years.

[BassmanRudy]

Like every other "gov" contract. No penalties and extra pay for the company when they start running behind.

No incentive to work = no completion of the contract.

I fully agree we've had prob the most mild weather ever since the project stated. And heck they could have worked a half day easy today before the weather hit.

[PD Fisher]

Follow the money and who it's being payed to. Bet the contractor is someone who is buddy buddy with a juror or the parish engineer (who couldn't build a matchstick house).


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