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Board to consider roughly $1 million Mason Creek pedestrian bridge repairs; contractors and architect costs questioned
Summary
Staff recommended contracting Bowen & Watson for repairs at Mason Creek Middle School; board discussion raised questions about who should bear costs after an assessment found the bridge does not meet current load specifications.
Chris Small, assistant superintendent of operations, recommended that the board enter a contract with Bowen & Watson for construction work to repair the pedestrian bridges at Mason Creek Middle School and said the item is on the agenda for approval March 17, 2025.
Small said the assessment concluded the bridge "did not meet the required specifications for full load bearing capacity" and that SAE would provide redesign and engineering work at no cost. Small and board members discussed the approximate scale of the work — staff referenced a total proposal in the neighborhood of $1 million — and noted the architect's typical fee of about 5 to 6 percent of project cost (estimated in discussion at roughly $50,000–$60,000 on a $1 million proposal).
Board members pressed staff on whether the district should absorb a large share of the cost when the bridge is relatively new (members cited the school opening in 2016) and on whether original specifications, materials or permitting might explain the current condition. Staff said the original design and permits met then‑applicable state and local requirements but acknowledged the condition now fails to satisfy current load requirements because of erosion and other factors.
No vote occurred; the board will consider the Bowen & Watson contract and related approvals at its March 17 meeting. Several members asked staff to pursue stronger negotiation with design and construction parties to reduce district exposure before approving costs.
