Committee approves two integrated construction contracts to accelerate Denver sidewalk program

The Land Use, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved two integrated construction contracts July 15 intended to speed delivery of Denver’s Sidewalk Enterprise projects, authorizing contract capacity of $75 million for construction and enabling work on gaps and ADA repairs across the city. The committee approved both items (agenda numbers 250992 and 250993) as a block motion moved by Councilmember Paul Cashman and seconded by Councilmember Jamie Torres; the motion passed by acclamation.

Geneva Hooten, program director for the Sidewalk Enterprise, and Elena McWhorter, legislative liaison, described the contracts as part of an overall $97.5 million three‑year program budget for sidewalk work. The two construction teams selected are CEMA Construction with $50 million in capacity and Melinder White with $25 million in capacity, both on three‑year contracts with a 22% MWBE participation goal. HNTB was described as the on‑call consultant already under contract for design, program management and other services; the HNTB portion is roughly $15 million of the three‑year program, leaving approximately $75 million intended for construction.

“We will be implementing the sidewalk…