Firm: Construction is still on schedule for two new schools
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 7, 2014 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
George Hernandez, left, Benito Garcia and Kenrik Navar lower in a storm drain at the site of the new Spring Creek Middle School on N.C. 111 South this morning.
Despite recent rains and "unsuitable soils" delaying construction at the new Grantham Middle School, work there and at the new Spring Creek Middle School is expected to be completed in time to open the schools next August.
Mike Burris, construction manager for both sites, told the Board of Education Monday night that the schools are "progressing well" and praised efforts of the subcontractors.
"Even though it's been wet and kind of damp, we have made real good progress," he said. "There's no real major issues for either project right now."
Earlier in the summer, that wasn't always the case.
Soil has been an issue, Burris said, at least on the Grantham site. The problem with "unsuitable soils" was addressed with the county, he told the board, but some of it is simply logistics.
He had said that the soil condition there was different than at the Spring Creek location. At the Grantham site, there was a tendency for the water to accumulate and stay longer.
Recent rainy weather put construction there behind by about two weeks.
"We have been working six-day weeks," he told the board.
In mid-September, the foundations were going up and larger areas, such as the auditorium and cafeteria, are coming along.
This past weekend, additional concrete was poured, he said, and they are working on underground plumbing and geothermal walls.
The contractual completion date for the project is July 17, 2015, Burris said, with the actual target completion date of July 30 being attainable, barring any other delays.
The update on the Spring Creek project is much more positive, in part because the ground there "dried much faster," he said.
Slabs have been poured, the main coordinates are going up and the steel was set this past week in the mezzanine area, he said.
"Spring Creek progress is going very well," he said. "We're running ahead a little bit on the project. Things may change but right now we think we're doing very well."
In his quarterly report on the projects, Burris provided the board with aerial photos of the two sites.
Ground was broken on Aug. 7 for the $46.9 million projects.
The Grantham School, which will cater to students in grades six through eight, is on U.S. 13 South.
The other new school will be housed on N.C. 111 South near Spring Creek High School, which has been the long-time home for grades 6-12.