Transportation committee approves additional appropriation for Plank Road IDOT contract

The King County Transportation Committee approved an additional appropriation to cover underestimated quantities and a contract overrun on the Plank Road project, the committee heard in its meeting.

Project implementation staff told the committee that bids for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) contract were opened in November 2023 and that construction is complete. During construction staff identified an underestimation of earth excavation quantities in the contract plans and a $194,000 extra cost to the construction contract. Staff said the original local-share calculation underestimated the county—s portion by $147,000, and described a proposed $20,000 contingency. Staff presented those three amounts as the appropriation request for the committee to approve.

The appropriation request totals $361,000 (the sum of $147,000, $194,000 and $20,000), and staff said the resolution identifies motor fuel tax funds as the proposed source. Staff also told the committee that because this is an IDOT contract the state must close out the contract before the county receives final invoices; staff estimated that could take years.

Committee members pressed staff on whether the underestimate was intentional. Project implementation staff replied: "Absolutely not. You know, we hire our professional engineering firm to develop the contract plans and develop plan quantities." The staff added that had quantities been estimated differently originally, that amount would have been part of the contract bid.

A motion to approve the appropriation was made and seconded and passed on a roll call vote with members present voting yes.

The resolution instructs the county to update its records with the state for motor fuel tax reimbursement and to proceed with the appropriation; the committee did not set a payment schedule beyond noting the dependence on IDOT closeout and subsequent invoicing.

Committee members were told this type of post-bid appropriation is uncommon: staff said there have been two similar committee requests during the staff member's tenure.

Looking ahead, staff said the county will proceed with the appropriation and update the state; payment timing will depend on the IDOT contract closeout process.