Public Works committee advances Goodman Road bridge design; 95% federal funding noted

The Washington County Public Works Committee voted to move the Goodman Road bridge design forward to the full Board of Supervisors after hearing staff brief the committee on the design-phase costs and federal funding share.

The plan presented to the committee showed the project would be 95% federally funded and 5% locally funded for items such as design. Staff told the committee the design fee on the table is $567,009.49, which the presenter said “includes the 5%” local share. Committee members were told the full project build estimate is nearly $3,300,000, and that the current action is to approve the design and associated schedule so the project can proceed to bidding and construction planning.

Committee members pressed staff about timing and local exposure if bids come in higher than the federal share will cover. One committee member asked whether the county could be required to pay “more than the 5%” if the federal share did not cover all costs; staff said such contracts “always say that,” and that there is contingency in the funding program to cover some overruns but the county must be prepared to cover engineering costs and potentially the construction balance if federal funds fall short. Staff said the county could pause the project before construction if federal funds did not materialize and would report back to the committee immediately.

The committee discussed ownership of the design documents if the county shelved a project. Staff said the county would own the design, but if the project were shelved the design would require review and likely update before reuse because specifications can change over time. Members also discussed permitting, land purchase and other schedule risks; staff said permits and design requirements (including permit reviews) are the primary schedule unknowns.

A motion that the item move from committee to the board passed on a voice vote: “Aye” — the meeting record shows the motion carried.

Committee documents note the Goodman Road project is on Goodman Road in the Fort Ann area and that staff hopes, schedule permitting, construction could begin as soon as the next year but emphasized that land acquisition, DC requirements and permits can delay start dates.

Ending: The design approval moves the county into the next step of procurement and permitting. Staff will notify the committee if federal funding changes or if the county must assume additional expense; the project will return to the board for construction authorization if additional local funding is needed.