Waukee council awards $630,797.60 contract for Northwest Sixth Street culvert over Little Walnut Creek

The Waukee City Council voted to approve plans and award a construction contract to Holdsworth Construction of West Des Moines for the Northwest Sixth Street culvert over Little Walnut Creek, the council said during its Aug. 4 meeting. The low bid was $630,797.60. The project is included in the city's capital improvements plan and carries an overall cost estimate of $1,400,000, staff said. The city previously budgeted $715,000 for the project in its FY24 CIP and staff said it expects to cover the remaining cost with about $200,000 from unobligated general obligation bonds in the FY26 CIP. The contract specifications set a completion date of May 29, 2026. City staff described the work as construction of a box culvert and associated work, including about 16,000 cubic yards of grading, 84 linear feet of steel casing pipe, structural concrete, reinforcing steel, erosion control and surface restoration. A public hearing was opened and closed with no public comment before the council voted. Staff noted prior positive experience with Holdsworth Construction as a subcontractor on the University Avenue project, and recommended awarding the contract to the apparent low bidder. Council members voted yes to approve both the resolution approving the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost and the resolution awarding the contract. The project will proceed through contract execution and construction scheduling; staff will administer the contract and report back to the council on progress and any budget adjustments.