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May 25, 2017
A Lafourche Parish infrastructure project more than two months behind schedule could be completed in the coming weeks.
The inspection and repair work on the Galliano Pontoon Bridge is currently set to be finished on June 6, according to the Heather Klingman, an engineer with Duplantis Design Group who led the design of the project. Klingman said her company, which is overseeing the work, has noticed considerable recent progress on the Galliano Bridge, crossing Bayou Lafourche near St. Joseph Catholic Church.
“We’ve been seeing work, and we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel,” Klingman said.
The original agreement gave contractors Volute, Inc. 120 calendar days to complete the repairs, starting on November 14 and finishing on March 14. However, Volute and subcontractor Lebro Construction, Inc., which is providing most of the labor on the project, have missed that date. As of today, the repairs are 71 days past schedule.
“Unfortunately it seems no matter what we do, this particular contractor on this job is slow in doing the work, basically,” Klingman said.
John Amedee, Volute’s project manager for the Galliano Bridge repairs, said his team is currently set to pour the roadway portion of the bridge this week, weather permitting. After that Volute will pour cement for the sidewalks and put railings back up, to hopefully be done on that June 6 date, according to Amedee. He said Volute’s work in Galliano has been delayed by a number of issues including ordering sheet-piling and
a weather delay of increased water levels and tide stopping them from pouring concrete.
“Sometimes in contracting you have jobs that are beautiful, you get them done ahead of time, and sometimes you have some that a bunch of little things delay you,” Amedee said. “You do your best job, you know? You do everything that you can to them done.”
Lafourche Parish Council Member Daniel Lorraine said he thinks both Volute and Lebro have missed opportunities to finish the project faster, noting parish officials have been constantly emailing them about the sluggish work. Lorraine said he could understand “something reasonable” like 10-20 days behind schedule, but noted the current delays have been frustrating. Lorraine, like Klingman, said the parish and engineers are limited in how they can apply pressure to contractors to speed up work.
“I’m not happy with it, but it’s really – what can I do? I want it finished, that’s my main goal. But if they are way over, I can’t hit nobody’s head against the wall and make them do it faster,” Lorraine said.
The one incentive Lafourche can put in its contract to promote expedient work is the liquidated damages it can charge. In many public works contracts, the parish is able to charge the contractor money for every day of work past the original date of completion. In the case of the Galliano Bridge, the damages are up to $500 per day past schedule, meaning Volute are already liable for up to $35,500 in damages as of today. If the June 6 completion date is indeed hit, the parish could charge up to $42,000 in damages.
Liquidated damages come off of what Lafourche pays Volute in the contract. However, they are applied only after council approval. While the Lafourche Council has not voted on applying liquidated damages to Volute yet, Klingman said she has been alerting Volute about the prospect of being charged the money.
Those possible damages would cut considerably into Volute’s payout, nearing almost 10 percent of its entire contract. Volute was the lowest responsible bidder, beating out five other companies with an offer just shy of $448,000. The next-closest bidder was Professional Construction Services at about $542,000.
Klingman said she has not heard any mention of the Lafourche council doing so to Volute, but parishes are able to deem bidders irresponsible on future projects if they have a history of poor or slow work with the parish. However, that opens up the parish to litigation, as contractors would be able to challenge their responsibility status in court. The project could then be delayed while the court case plays out, and the parish could spend money in legal fees, possibly causing even more headaches for parish officials than saved by avoiding work with a contractor.
Amedee said Volute has worked with Lebro on a number of other construction projects and was satisfied with the company’s services. Amedee said he was not ready to blame Lebro for the delays on the Galliano Bridge.
“Occasionally you get a subcontractor that is not living up to the responsibilities or the requirements of that contract. In this case we’re not having that problem with them,” Amedee said.
Lorraine said while he cannot go out there and force workers’ hands, the veteran council member known to speak his mind said he would take note of their work when discussing future projects.
“I’m just going to remember if they ever come up again,” Lorraine said.
