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St. Joseph County approves change order on INDOT-funded bridge project, cites $104,000 materials reduction
Summary
The county commissioners approved change order No. 26 to INDOT contract R-37496, a federally funded project involving added travel lanes and a bridge replacement; staff said a supplier preapproval issue led to a $104,000 reduction rather than wholesale pipe replacement.
St. Joseph County commissioners on Sept. 23 approved change order No. 26 to Indiana Department of Transportation contract R-37496, a federally funded project that includes added travel lanes and a bridge replacement.
County Infrastructure Planning and Growth staff said the contractor had purchased some materials in advance, and a multi-year delay in utility relocations meant materials that met specifications when bought did not meet requirements when installed. "This may be more than you bargain for. It's kind of a drawn out explanation, being this was a federally funded project," said Andrew Hayes, Department of Infrastructure Planning and Growth, explaining the procurement and approval history.
The contractor kept most above-ground materials and returned and replaced others; INDOT accepted a reduction in cost for the pipes that were placed. Hayes said the net reduction on the county's change order was $104,000. "It's a considerable reduction, $104,000," a county official stated during the discussion.
Commissioners asked whether the material itself was defective and were told the issue was administrative: the supplier had been preapproved at purchase but later lost preapproved status under INDOT's processes and was later reinstated. "There's nothing wrong with the material," Hayes said, adding that some stockpiled materials required protection from sunlight.
The commissioners moved and seconded approval of the change order; the vote recorded on the motion was three ayes and no nays, and the motion carried. Commissioners voting in favor were Commissioner Moore, Mister Hazen and Mister Maxman.
The county did not state the original total contract value in the meeting, nor did staff provide additional timeline details beyond noting the utility relocation delay. The change order approval documents remain part of the contract record with INDOT.
