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Tehachapi council awards RSTP Valley 2 paving contract to Bowman Asphalt
Summary
At a special meeting the Tehachapi City Council voted 3-0 to award the RSTP Valley 2 improvements contract to Bowman Asphalt to grind, fill and resurface nearly half a mile of Valley Boulevard; the project is funded primarily by an RSTP grant with a $62,053 city match and authorizes change orders up to 20% of the contract.
At a special meeting, the Tehachapi City Council voted 3-0 to award the Regional Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) Valley 2 improvements contract to Bowman Asphalt, approving a project to grind, crack-fill and resurface about half a mile of Valley Boulevard from Beach Street to Tucker Road.
The project is funded primarily by an RSTP grant of roughly $478,000, with a required city match of $62,053, city engineering staff said. The council also authorized the city manager to approve change orders up to 20% of the original contract.
Engineering staff member Norton, presenting the item, said the work will include grinding the existing pavement, crack filling and overlaying the road. Norton said the project scope adds about 500 linear feet of an asphalt curve on the north side of Valley Boulevard from Beach Street to Griffin and widens that location by roughly one foot to accommodate curb work.
Norton told the council the low bid came from Bowman Asphalt at $383,896 and that the project budget is covered by the RSTP grant with the city match required to accept the funding. Norton said the contractor has 90 days under the contract to complete the work; staff estimated that, under one likely sequence, grinding could be completed in two days and paving could be done in a short follow-up window, though the exact phasing and traffic control will be determined by the contractor.
Council members and staff discussed contingency and scope. Engineering staff said the council would use grant funding first and that any remaining local measure funds (Measure S) would be reserved for other qualifying projects if not spent on this job. Norton cautioned that Caltrans and the approved environmental document for the RSTP grant limit changes to the project scope, so the city could add modest improvements within the approved environmental clearance but could not reassign funds to pave an unrelated street without additional approvals.
On construction logistics, Norton said the city can request measures to reduce traffic impacts — such as rolling closures, alternating lane closures or night paving — but the contractor controls means and methods. He said staff will monitor the contractor closely to limit detours and overall duration.
Council members also asked about a drop-off and culvert near the work area. Norton said parts of the section sit in a county island and that culvert ownership and larger guardrail or capital improvements are in the city’s capital plan but are not funded or scheduled as part of this contract.
Roll call on the contract award recorded Council member Smith, Council member Chung and Council member Polvin Court voting yes; the motion passed 3-0.
Staff said they will finalize the contract paperwork and start the procurement clock so work can be scheduled this season. Norton and other staff said they will report back to council if change orders are needed or if schedule or scope changes require additional approvals.
