Council accepts low bid for South Locust Street sidewalks, drainage and safety upgrades totaling $430,709 plus contingency

City Council on May 20 accepted the low bid from Benchmark Land Management LLC and authorized the city manager to execute an agreement for road, drainage and sidewalk improvements on South Locust Street at a base bid of $430,709 plus a contingency of $43,070.90, for a total not to exceed $473,779.90.

Mike (service/engineering staff) described project elements including 470 feet of culvert stormwater pipe in front of the Duke substation and Goodwill, fill and new sidewalk construction, 738 feet of new sidewalk along the east side of South Locust and missing segments at Brookview Court, two new high-visibility crosswalks (at Collins and Brookview Court), and rapid-flash beacons at both crosswalks.

Staff said three competitive bids were received and Benchmark Land Management was the low bidder with acceptable references. Engineering staff secured an ODOT systemic-safety grant that will pay approximately $388,000 of the project, leaving a local exposure of roughly 10% if contingency is not used.

Councilmembers welcomed the improvements, which they said will reduce pedestrian barriers along a corridor where residents currently use informal “goat paths” and highlighted the project’s role in a broader bicycle and pedestrian planning effort. The resolution to accept the bid and contract was approved by voice vote; the transcript did not record a roll-call vote tally.