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Orting reviews SR 162 bridge construction risks after shaft anomalies; council approves $46,830 change order
Summary
City staff reported anomalies in newly installed bridge shafts and paused work for investigation. Council authorized a $46,830 change order to settle an equitable adjustment requested by the contractor and recessed to an executive session to discuss legal risk.
Deputy Mayor Melanie King and city staff told the Orting City Council on April 15 that contractors installing foundations for the SR 162 bridge have encountered anomalies in five of 25 bored shafts, prompting an investigation and schedule review.
The city’s capital projects manager said the contractor has completed installation of 25 shafts to depths of about 90 feet; five shafts showed anomalies that required a stop-work and additional testing. The contractor and staff changed installation procedures and the final two shafts passed the required CSL test after the procedure change, the manager said.
Why it matters: the anomalies affect the project’s critical path and could produce change orders and schedule shifts for a project with a $9.6 million budget and multiple prime contracts. Staff warned the council that some future change orders are likely while the anomaly investigation and repair work continue.
Council action: Council Member Sprowl moved and Council Member Gunther seconded a motion to authorize staff to execute a change order “to settle the equitable adjustment requested by the contractor in the amount of $46,830.00.” The motion passed by voice vote; the transcript records the motion, the mover and seconder, and that the motion passed but does not record individual roll-call votes.
Capital projects update: the capital projects report included an overall budget and cost-tracking exhibit. The report showed a $157,000 credit on one contract resulting from how the contractor completed a sanitary sewer force main, and it listed other potential risks and anticipated change orders tied to design refinements and unforeseen site issues. Staff said they will provide a schedule update within a month and will return to council with further change orders as needed.
Legal review and executive session: city staff asked council to recess into executive session to discuss potential litigation and legal risks tied to the proposed project action. The city administrator cited RCW “40 two-thirty 110 subsection 1i” when notifying the public that the council would consult with legal counsel about potential litigation or legal risks; staff then recessed the meeting for a private executive session.
What’s next: staff said they will continue the anomaly investigation, report back with schedule and cost implications, and bring any further change orders or corrective-work proposals to council for approval.
Evidence in the meeting: the capital projects manager walked the council through the shaft installation status, the anomaly investigation, contract credits and the project’s drawdown of the $9.6 million budget. The change-order motion and the request for executive session were recorded in the public meeting transcript.
