Council approves larger appropriation after bridge bids come in higher; one bridge had no bidders

Athens City Council approved an amendment to increase funding for the Stimson Avenue bridge rehabilitation after city staff reported bids returned substantially higher than earlier estimates and a change in Ohio bidding practice increased allowable overrun thresholds.

Councilmember Spianis introduced the ordinance amending the 2025 appropriations to authorize engineering and construction for the Stimson Avenue bridge (project 358) and related bridge work, and the administration described revised totals and funding sources. The administration said the service/safety director is authorized to expend several million dollars across small cities (ODOT) and street-rehabilitation funds; an amendment was approved that increased the street-rehab fund contribution to $1,204,309.81 for the project.

Mayor Steve Patterson and council members said the higher costs were driven by bids returned in mid-February and by a change in state practice that allows larger variances between engineer estimates and low bids (discussed as moving from a 10% to a 20% threshold). Patterson confirmed two separate bridge projects were funded through different streams and that one of the bridge projects — the US-33 overpass (referred to as the 33 Overpass Bridge) — received no bids and will be re-advertised. “This grant came in. The low, there was 2 bids. This one being the lower came in at about 17%,” Patterson said, summarizing the bid situation.

Council approved the amendment to the appropriation (increasing the street-rehab allocation) and read the ordinance for the first time with the amendment in place; the clerk confirmed the amendment was seconded and the voice vote to approve the amendment carried.

Members discussed the bid environment and whether the state trend toward higher allowable bid variances would affect future projects. Member Swank asked whether the change was a wider trend; the mayor said the administration would discuss strategy for future bids in a later session.

The council also adopted a separate ordinance authorizing advertising, accepting bids, and entering contracts for maintenance and improvements to the Richland Bridge over the Hocking River and the Strouds Run Bridge over US-33 (project listed as 381/382 in discussion); that ordinance was adopted on a voice vote, and one motion noted a clerical correction to the project number during review.

City officials said the administration will continue working with project engineers and the awarded contractor to attempt to re-establish work for the 33 Overpass Bridge or to rebid that project.