The Chattanooga City Council on Tuesday approved additional funds for the Wilcox Tunnel renovations.
The work now will incorporate a new sealant technology to combat water leaks that have been known to turn into icicles in freezing weather.
The new process calls for using an injection foam sealant instead of an injected epoxy to fix the remaining 345 linear feet of cracks to be sealed in the project. Epoxy was used to seal about 65 percent of the 981 linear feet of cracks identified for repair.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 3/21/16. Construction continues on the Wilcox Tunnel on Monday, March 21, 2016. The city's Department of Transportation has cited the new injection foam technology as being a better way of combating water seepage.
On Tuesday, the city council voted 9-0 in favor of amending the renovation agreement with contractor Harman Walsh Industrial Services to include the foam sealant, adding another $101,996 to the project's price tag, amounting to a $1.43 million commitment to the Wilcox Tunnel overhaul.
The project, which occurs within the the city's ninth district, has received the praise of the district's councilman, Yusuf Hakeem.
"We know that the final objective is to improve the tunnel by getting another tube, but this is a good start in that process," Hakeem said. "I think the community is very appreciative of the work that has been done."
The approved change order also encompasses other costs associated with the project, including additional concrete surface repairs and extra rental equipment expenses due to delays caused by repairs needed prior to linear sealant tasks.
Downtime for the Wilcox Tunnel project, which also calls for installing a new lighting system, improving pedestrian railing and resurfacing the roadway, has been a concern for local businesses since the tunnel was closed on Aug. 17.
In February, the city approved construction mitigation program that would allocate up to $25,000 to Wilcox Tunnel area businesses. The initiative will provide up to $1,000 in assistance to each eligible that applies within 90 days of the end of construction.
The sealant process changeover will not affect the tunnel's scheduled April 11 opening date, said Marissa Bell, communications coordinator for the city's economic and community development department, in an email.
Wilcox Tunnel was opened April 22, 1931, and was named for Hamilton County Highway Commission Chairman T.S. Wilcox.
Contact staff writer Paul Leach at 423-757-6481 or pleach@timesfreepress.com.