and GMP development needed to prepare for an early May
construction start.
Construction Phase Schedule Considerations
y y Bidding of the major trades should occur at the beginning of
each year to allow construction to commence by May
y y “Heavy” construction activities, such as underground
infrastructure work and conduit installation are desired to
be constructed in the summer months when traffic volumes
are lowest
y y Year-round construction activities have been approved by the
Town Council for the undergrounding program
y y “Heavy” construction activities should begin in early May and
be completed by Thanksgiving to the greatest extent practical
y y To minimize traffic impacts, “heavy” construction impacts
will not be allowed to occur in adjacent phases at the
same time
y y Cable and equipment installation activities may overlap the
duration of backbone conduit installation within a phase
y y Feeder switch over to the underground system would occur
in the cooler months when electrical demand is low which
reduces the complexity of the process and associated costs
150 | CHAPTER ELEVEN
y y Conversion of individual electric and communications
services will follow the energization of the new underground
system
y y Overhead wire and pole removal cannot begin until all
services are converted to the new underground system
Schedule Durations
The durations of significant activities that occur within each project
phase were developed based on information gathered from a variety
of sources. Design durations are largely based on Kimley-Horn’s
experience with similar projects and through schedule discussions
with FPL, AT&T, and Comcast.
Construction activity durations were based on general rates of
production that area contractors with undergrounding expertise
felt were reasonable for scope of work involved. Combining these
production rates with mass quantities for the project developed as a
part of the opinion of cost development yielded significant activity
durations and were then incorporated into the overall schedule.
Appropriate schedule contingencies were also applied to account for
normal weather impacts, potential geological challenges (rock), and
unforeseen conditions.
TOWN OF PALM BEACH