Council Approves Construction Phase for Lake Tyler Dam Repair

TYLER — The Tyler City Council Wednesday approved a contract for $803,500 to Wisenbaker Fix & Associates for the construction phase for the Lake Tyler Dam Repair project. Last January, Wisenbaker Fix & Associates and their geotechnical subconsultants began the engineering and design for the repair of the seepage at the Lake Tyler Dam. The plans were forwarded to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Dam Safety Section for review in September. The TCEQ provided comments and requested additional modeling that had to be addressed before the project could proceed into construction, according to a city news release. Wisenbaker Fix & Associates is currently finalizing its response to the TCEQ, with an anticipated re-submittal date of Dec. 15. Construction is anticipated to begin in March 2014.

Because of the complex nature of the repair and their familiarity with the project, Wisenbaker Fix & Associates and their subconsultants were selected by City staff to provide full-time inspection of the project during construction, according to city officials. “During construction of the cutoff wall, it is expected that work will occur 24 hours a day, 5 days per week with a construction representative onsite for the full duration of the work,” said Managing Director for Utilities Greg Morgan. “This will provide for surveying, construction staking, materials testing, and laboratory services.”

“Lake Tyler is a vital asset for our residents, and it’s important for us to keep the dam well maintained,” said City Manager Mark McDaniel. “The City is always researching and planning how to make the future of Tyler better and our water source is a top priority.”