Construction and precipitation do not mix. The 16.44 inches of rain and 34.9 inches of snow that drenched the area since Nov. 1 have set some projects back.
These figures measured at National Airport as of Feb. 23 were supplied by the Climate Prediction Center. Climate expert Mike Halpert noted that while there was a precipitation deficit in Northern Virginia of 12-15 inches at one time last year, since November "we've had above normal rainfall. January wasn't particularly wet," he said.
In Lee District, the interstate interchange project, parking garage at Springfield-Franconia Metro, Northern Virginia Community College medical campus and the widening of Beulah Street are all projects underway.
"Weather dependent," was the term used by Jeff McKay to describe how construction projects deal with rain and snow.
"I think it's pretty obvious that the weather delays will hit every project," he said.
The Van Dorn extension, a road that goes from Kingstowne Parkway to Telegraph Road, has been hit hard by the wet weather. It is at the bottom of the hill from Franconia Road and alongside a wetland area. The mix of rain and snow has turned the road project into a marshy mess. The completion date that was once January 2003 is now forecasted to be mid-summer. McKay added a "possibly" to that prediction, barring further rain and snow.
The trucks at the interchange project are idle as well. Although a certain amount of bad weather days are accounted for in the contract, interchange information specialist Steve Titunik said the project is still on track.
"The time is certainly put into it for weather," he said. "You always count on the dry weather to cushion you for the bad weather."
An exact date for completion of phases IV and V, under construction now, was hard to pin down though. Titunik outlined the completion dates as November 2000 to late summer 2004 for phase IV and September 2001 to late summer 2004 for phase V.
There are two types of VDOT contracts, calendar-date contracts where days are added for bad weather, and fixed-date contracts where there is a cut off. Then there is a "grand majeure" factor, which is an act of God. Neither Titunik nor fellow information specialist Donna Kierstead could determine if the last snowstorm could be classified as that.
Chuck Smith, contract manager for Shirley Contracting, works on Phase IV.
"The project uses averages," he said. "We're kind of making up for the last two winters."
The project gets its averages from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
Phases IV and V include the 120-foot overpass from I-95/495 to I-95 south. Phases VI and VII, which are the final phases of the project, are going to be up for bid over the summer. There are bonuses involved for hitting the completion date.
THE BRADDOCK DISTRICT doesn't have as many transportation projects, but some private projects are currently underway. Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock) mentioned the funeral home project at Fairfax Memorial Park and the Trinity School as two that are currently under construction.
"I'm sure they've suffered some delays," she said.
In addition, Cox Communications is upgrading in Braddock District, as well as elsewhere in the county, which could be affected, according to Bulova.
"The installation of cable has probably been affected," she said.
Cox spokesperson Alex Horwitz said the upgrade for the whole county is 75-80 percent complete. Braddock District is part of the remaining section that needs to be upgraded but "the weather's had a pretty minor impact there," he said. "It hasn't slowed us down much."