Wildlands Hillside Trail Relocation and Restoration Project

Jan 2

Project Description: Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust (GPMCT), a nonprofit land conservation organization based in Bucksport, Maine, is seeking to hire a trail contractor to construct approximately 1425’ of new trail construction, 1105’ of basic trail restoration, and 1635’ of minor trail restoration. The primary users of this trail will be: snowmobilers, equestrians, Nordic skiers, snowshoers, bikers, and hikers. Due to physical grade constraints, this trail will not be wheelchair accessible; however universal design principles and sustainable trail guidelines have been incorporated. It is a barrier free trail with no steps or waterbars, making it ideal for snowmobiles, horses, and bikes. A portion of this project is being funded with Federal Highway Recreational Trails Program assistance, and is designated as Recreational Trails Project #1820.

More information about GPMCT is available on the website: http://greatpondtrust.org

Download the Request for Proposals

Project Location
The project is on the GPMCT Wildlands property, a 4500-acre preserve in Orland, Maine. The Trail is on the western slope of Oak Hill, with each end coming down to the gravel road on the floor of the valley. Both ends of the Hillside Trail are accessible by gated, four-season gravel roads. The southern end is about 1 mile from US Route 1 in Orland (see attached map).

Project Management:
GPMCT’s Steward will be the Project Manager to support this project, who will be consulting with the Executive Director. The Project Manager will be overseeing day-to-day design questions and decisions, ensuring compliance with specifications regarding style and erosion prevention methods, and will help address any unforeseen challenges.

Timeframe: Exact time-frame is negotiable pending proper soil and site conditions. Work must be complete by November 1, 2019.

Field Visit: There will be two 3- hour field visits on Friday, January 18 and Monday, January 21 to walk the trail corridor (pending snow conditions), and we request that contractors contact us immediately to schedule one of these times to visit if they are interested in bidding.

Payment Schedule
Payment schedule will be agreed upon and finalized with contractor upon selection.

Bid Questions
Questions about bid specifications should be made via email: info@greatpondtrust.org
Questions will also be answered on the field visits. Answers to questions will be shared with all prospective contractors.

Bid Includes:
Review existing flagged trail and work with project manager to recommend and make trail adjustments
Cut vegetation as necessary within the trail corridor (see attached Corridor Clearing Limits)
Install temporary bridges, or temporarily deck final bridges
Build 1425’ of new trail (segment A)
Restore 1105’ of trail (segment B)
Improve 1635’ of trail (segment C)
All erosion control strategies and structures, including rip rap, excelsior or jute mesh, retaining walls, silt fence, EC berms, etc.
Bids must show total costs for each of the 3 segments

Erosion Control
The Wildlands is managed for wildlife habitat, as well as recreation and forestry, and there are sensitive ponds, brooks and wetlands in the watershed, downhill of the Trail. It is of utmost importance that the contractor install and maintain all erosion and sedimentation measures required to keep sediments from entering these water bodies (See Maine DEP Erosion Control, Best Management Practices) https://www.maine.gov/dep/land/erosion/escbmps/esc_bmp_field.pdf

Other Requirements
The lead project manager / contractor in the field shall be a member of the Professional Trail Builders Association or demonstrate equivalent experience.
The selected contractor shall demonstrate expertise in working within an environmentally sensitive setting and in the construction of nature trails in similar setting and under similar specifications.

Detailed description and specifications
The Hillside Trail will be constructed for snowmobile use. The trail will be groomed with a snowmobile powered drag groomer. Design parameters such as cleared corridor width, turning radii, tread obstructions and bridge designs are dictated by this use.

GPMCT is completing a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Permit by Rule application for stream crossings during spring 2018. The trail corridor is flagged (where it is not obvious) but can have minor changes with agreement of the Steward and the contractor prior to construction.

Segment A
This section is rocky with numerous wet areas and ephemeral streams. Additionally, the proposed trail alignment crosses a few skid roads which will continue to be used for forest management. Building along this alignment will entail moving many large rocks, filling holes, building stream crossings, and installing culverts. The alignment was considered carefully and if properly constructed, this is the best route for safety, cost, and sustainability with the least impact on continued forest operations.

The entirety of the trail tread in this section will be surfaced with gravel 4- 6” in depth and 6’ in width (see attached Imported Surface drawing). Bridges will be a combination of pressure treated or steel I beam stringers with eastern white cedar decking and railings. Abutments will be constructed from native stone with steel, black locust, or composite sill plates (see attached Bridge Specification sheet). Culverts will either be ADS double walled plastic with stone headers and caps or cedar box culverts.

Structures and materials needed:
1 bridge, 8’ clear span
1 bridge, 20’ clear span
7-8 culverts, 18-36” diameter
Approx. 9000 sq. ft. of 4 oz. non-woven geotextile fabric
Approx. 55 cu. yds. of drainage stone
Approx. 225 cu. yds of gravel
Stone for culvert headers, caps, rip rap (located on site)
Temporary erosion and sediment control barriers
Straw mulch
Native seed mix

Work Log for Segment A (New Trail Construction)
By Foot
0
Trailhead at parking lot
Start excavation

5
Parking lot ditch
Install 24” culvert

95
Boulder in tread
Remove boulder (drill and split)

105
Boulder sitting/picnic area
Clean up area, remove slash and hazard trees

120
Enter forest management area
Excavate at 8% contoured grade
Avoid flagged trees according to forest management plan
300
Jct. skid road
Install grade reversal

375
Small stream crossing
Install 20’ bridge
Refer to bridge specifications

430
Ephemeral stream crossing
Install 8’ bridge
Refer to bridge specifications

460
Boulder field/ large rocky area
Start climbing turns through boulders

650
Large boulder
Install French drain/drainage lens

665
Ditch in edge of skid road
Install 36” culvert

715
Pass between two large boulders
Fill hole w/ 10 cu. yds. of rock

800
Jct. skid road
Install two 24” culverts

910
Wet drainage area
Install two 18” culverts

1075
Small drainage area
Install 18” culvert or box culvert

1425
4-way jct. w/ skid roads
Install grade reversal

End Segment A

Segment B
This section follows an old bulldozed skid road that is approximately 12-20’ wide. Although the grade gets above 10% in a few short areas, the existing tread is relatively stable. Work includes the following:

Opening/clearing the corridor to trail specifications
Removal of rocks from the tread and downslope edge of the trail
Removal of berm that is trapping water on the trail
Installation of culverts as needed (approximately 4-6)
Installation of grade reveals and rolling grade dips (approximately 16-20)
Excavation of uphill ditch/swale with outlets at culverts or grade reversals (approximately 400-600 lineal feet)
Cutting the trail tread to regain a 3-5% outslope (Approximately 750 feet)

Segment C
This section follows an old road bed and is currently stable. Maintenance consists of keeping the grass mowed; however, the presence of protruding rocks dictates that current maintenance be accomplished with a brush cutter/weed Wacker. With minor restoration, the tread will drain better, and maintenance will be able to be accomplished with a riding mower, drastically reducing the time needed to keep growth down in the spring and summer months. Work includes:
Removal of the berm that is trapping water on the trail
Removal of protruding rocks in the tread
Filling holes with gravel (located on site)
Cutting the trail tread to regain a 3-5% outslope (Approximately 500 feet)

Segment D (no work)
This follows the existing Hillside Road, Valley Road, and Flag Hill Road. The 2.9+ mile section closes the loop and is currently a popular snowmobile, equestrian, walking and biking path. There is no work needed on this segment. It is included to illustrate the larger loop trail system and the connectivity of the Hillside Trail to other trails in the Wildlands.

Trail Management Objectives and Construction Guidelines

Trail Class: Segment A of the Hillside Trail will be constructed and restored to a Trail Class 3 (developed standard for snowmobile use). Segments B-C will be constructed and restored to a Trail Class 4 (highly developed standard for snowmobiles). Segment D is currently a Class 4 snowmobile trail and requires no work.

Managed Use: The Hillside Trail will be managed for the following uses:
Snowmobile
Pack and saddle/Equestrian
Cross country ski
Snowshoe
Bicycle
Hiker/Pedestrian

Designed Use: Snowmobile. The local snowmobile club will groom the trail with a snowmobile powered drag groomer. Design parameters such as cleared corridor width, turning radii, tread obstructions and bridge designs are dictated by this designed use.

Additional Guidelines
Trails will be constructed to design parameters specified above.
Off trail drainage will be designed to promote sheet flow and percolation.
Care will be taken to not impact any forest management operations surrounding the trail.
Bridges will be constructed to USFS specifications (see attached).
The existing organic/sod layer will be excavated to mineral soil using a rubber tracked excavator.
A 4 to 6” minimum layer of compacted ¾” crushed gravel will be installed on top of the excavated surface as needed.
In wet areas, locations of significant runoff, and places where subterranean water is seeping between the bedrock and the surface, 1½” washed and crushed drainage rock will be installed to allow the water to flow laterally through the trail below the surface. Geotextile fabric will be placed over the drainage rock, followed by compacted layers of imported gravel. The elevated trail tread will be retained by using excess sod or organic material that has been removed in the excavation process. The organic material will be installed and raked smooth at a 2:1 slope, then seeded and mulched.
All sub-base, base, and surface aggregate layers will be compacted in lifts no greater than 6”.
Compaction will be augmented with moisture, either naturally occurring or sprayed.
In areas of concentrated channel flow, ADS plastic double wall culverts or wooden box culverts will be installed. Inlet and outlet aprons will be shaped, and wing wall stones will be placed to armor and retain soil with carefully placed header stones over the culvert.
All materials will be transported using only low impact tracked equipment that is no wider than the finished trail tread.
Excavated organic/sod material will be utilized just outside the trail tread edges where possible.
Excess excavated material will be stockpiled on site and/or used in other trail applications.
Temporary and permanent erosion and sediment control barriers will be installed as per Maine Department of Conservation recommended Best Management Practices.
All impacted areas will be stabilized and naturalized after construction with native seed, straw mulch and/or jute mat as required.

Bid Information Requested:
Contact GPMCT immediately to schedule contractor field visit
Budget summary outlining costs for the 3 segments
Erosion control strategies
Description of methodology or approach, including the phases of construction
Suggestions for potential cost savings
List of all equipment (make, model, year, and width) to be used on this project
Provide contact information for on-site supervisor
Anticipated timing of work schedule and description of seasonal availability
Qualifications
Three project examples, including photographs and descriptions; contact information for those organizations for which the work was done
Proof of liability insurance, with coverage of $1 million

Bid Selection Process
Bids will be publicly opened at 10:30 am, Monday, February 18th at GPMCT’s office. Bid selection will occur within three weeks, and each applicant will be contacted by March 5. The Trust will select a bid based upon competitive pricing, qualifications, and schedule availability. We reserve the right to reject any and all bids.

Bid Deadline
Monday, February 11th 5 pm, via email

Process Timeline
January 18 & 21, 2019: Field Visits
February 11, 2019: Bid Deadline
February 18, 2019: Bids opened
March 5, 2019: All Bidders contacted
May 2019: Construction begins
November 1, 2019: Completion Deadline