Council approves $2.26M construction-management contract for Lincoln Avenue widening

The Parker Town Council unanimously approved a $2,261,888 contract recommendation on Feb. 18 for construction management, inspection and material testing services tied to the Lincoln Avenue and Jordan Road widening project.

Why it matters: The contract funds consultant oversight needed during a major capital project that the town and Douglas County have planned for years; county funding of $9 million toward construction was cited and the project is designed to reduce congestion along a primary east-west corridor.

Public Works staff said the town publicly advertised a qualifications request in November 2024, received two responses, interviewed both firms and selected Benesch (presented in meeting as Benesch/Benesh/Benish in varied pronunciations) as the most qualified. Staff said Benesch will provide construction management and inspection and will use a subconsultant for material testing. The negotiated fee of $2,261,888 represents roughly 7.5% of the estimated $30 million construction cost, a percentage staff said is within industry norms.

Staff also updated council on procurement and schedule: the bid opening for the construction contract occurred earlier that day; staff will review bids and present a construction contract for council consideration at a March meeting. Staff estimated contractor mobilization in mid-to-late April and a contract completion date in or about October 2026. Standard daytime lane-impact hours are expected (staff cited a typical 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. window for on-road work), with limited night work to be coordinated as needed.

Councilmember Dyack moved to approve the staff recommendation and Councilmember Barrington seconded; the motion passed unanimously. Councilmembers praised the project as long-planned local infrastructure work; one councilmember noted the presentation contained a minor numeric discrepancy between the slide and the packet (staff confirmed a $700 difference between the reported trailing digits and asked staff to reconcile in the record).

Clarifying details: Douglas County is contributing $9,000,000 toward construction; Benesch was selected from two qualified firms; staff recommended the negotiated fee as appropriate; and construction management services will include inspection and material testing using a subconsultant. Staff said bids for construction came in under the engineer's estimate and that a construction contract will be brought to council in March.