Eagle Rock Interceptor Sewer

In January 2004, the City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works (LADPW) began building the Eagle Rock Interceptor Sewer (ERIS) in the Glassell Park, Highland Park, and Eagle Rock area. The 3-mile-long (4.8 km) sewer is broken into three main sewer line segments, and was completed in summer 2006. ERIS is a microtunneled and trenched pipe 12 to 48 inches (305 to 1,219 mm) in diameter. It eliminates sewage spills in local neighborhoods by providing additional capacity that keeps the sewage contained.

Jacobs Associates was tasked by the LADPW to analyze and evaluate numerous claims on the ERIS construction. This work was performed as part of an on-call support services contract for construction management, scheduling, and claims-related services.

The claims and disputed amounts were based on changes in groundwater discharge requirements and the use of microtunneling in lieu of the as-designed cut-and-cover method of excavation. The initial contract value for ERIS was $20,000,000. At mediation, a total claim amount of approximately $15,600,000 was presented. Settlement was reached for an amount that was lower than anticipated by the client ($7,300,000). This amount was funded from a release of retention, a release of stop notices, and a change order for extra work.