Town awards $1.56 million contract for Alston Ridge Greenway, seeks $700,000 supplemental funding

The Fuquay-Varina Town Board on Aug. 4 awarded a $1,557,963 contract to Cardinal Civil Contracting LLC to construct the Alston Ridge Greenway and approved a $700,000 budget and project ordinance amendment to cover the funding gap.

Engineering Director Matt Poland said the roughly 2,400-linear-foot project includes grading, drainage, signage and boardwalk and will connect the Alston Ridge neighborhood to the Bass Lake Trail network in Holly Springs and ultimately to Downtown Holly Springs’ trail system. The project previously received a Local Assistance Program (LAP) grant; the original grant award was $929,162 at a 60/40 match. Poland said the town needs an additional $700,000 and has submitted a request to the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) for supplemental funding; if CAMPO approves, the supplemental would be a 50/50 match ($350,000 CAMPO / $350,000 town).

The project was rebid after earlier procurement returned two bids; the lowest bidder on the second solicitation (McQueen Construction at $1,357,037.88) was determined nonresponsive because the firm lacked NCDOT prequalification at the time of bid. Cardinal Civil was the lowest responsive bidder. The board approved the contract award and the budget amendment and authorized the town manager to execute the contract subject to attorney review.

Board members noted the greenway’s value in expanding trail access for multiple neighborhoods and observed nearby subdivisions such as Sunset Bluffs already have private/public access into the Bass Lake Trail network. Poland said Sunset Bluffs’ connection is maintained by the homeowners association and is not town-maintained.

The motion to award the contract and approve the budget amendment carried by voice vote.