Council approves DDA bid waiver to finish Big Beaver/I‑75 embankments; $2.3M phase slated to start in August

Troy City Council on June 9 approved a bid waiver that allows the Downtown Development Authority to continue work with Warren Contractors to complete landscaping on the upper embankments at the I‑75/Big Beaver interchange.

Public Works Director Kurt Bovency told council that initial work on Big Beaver was completed and that the DDA is now able to fund the next phase — the upper embankments along I‑75 that were value‑engineered out of an earlier contract. Bovency said Warren Contractors has kept schedule and a modest change‑order profile during the earlier work; the DDA and staff recommended waiving the formal bid process so the contractor can start the upper embankment work in August.

Financials and schedule: Bovency presented a total project cost for the embankment phase of just over $2.3 million, funded by DDA tax‑capture funds allocated for fiscal 2026. He said crews would aim to finish heavy work by November 2025 (to avoid winter) and complete final plantings and restoration in spring 2026.

Why it matters: Big Beaver is a major arterial and the embankment landscaping shapes drivers’ first impressions of the city and supports the DDA’s corridor beautification goals. Councilors asked about staging and traffic disruptions; Bovency said the off‑ramp shoulders provide staging opportunities and the work should minimize disruptions to peak traffic.

Formal action: council approved the bid waiver and authorized staff to proceed with the DDA‑funded embankment phase.