The Kankakee City Council on July 21 approved a resolution authorizing acceptance of Alternate 9 to the Pikesh Seminole Inc. construction bid for the East Riverwalk project after staff reported the existing riverbank wall was no longer salvageable.

City project staff told council the riverbank wall deteriorated during recent winter ice events and could not be salvaged. The mussel relocation work and prior restrictions had prevented earlier exploratory digging, and when crews were finally able to inspect the bank they found the wall had degraded beyond repair.

Staff recommended and the council approved adding Alternate 9 to the existing contract. The change order listed before the council was in the amount of $564,008.91 (presented in the meeting as $564,008.91). Staff indicated the contractor would still be the low bidder and that manufacturing of replacement wall panels was already underway, and they expected to begin in-water work on or about Aug. 1 after receiving final clearances.

Council approved the resolution by roll call; one abstention was recorded on the vote due to a potential conflict of interest. Staff said the alternate did not materially change the low bidder and urged timely approval so construction could begin in early August.