Hoover council approves $232,000 change order for I‑459 Exit 9 project after resident questions pace and cost

The Hoover City Council voted to approve a $232,000 change order to the contract for the new I‑459 Exit 9 interchange, council members said during the Oct. 13 meeting.

The change order covers scope items not included in the original contract, city staff said, and the city is responsible for consultant engineering costs under the agreement with the Alabama Department of Transportation. Staff said the additional work includes fiber, lighting and items tied to coordination with a nearby fire station and that the request should be the final change order for the project.

The matter drew public comment. “I’m concerned about the rush to do the vote,” said Elizabeth Gunther, a resident of Lake Cyrus, asking why the item was being decided before incoming council members take office and how much the city would be on the hook for change orders. “Perhaps there needs to be a postpone this vote,” she said.

City staff responded that the work was needed to keep the project on schedule so it can be advertised for bid in 2026 and that the requested $232,000 should be the final increase. After council discussion, the item was approved; the clerk announced “the ayes have it.”

Why it matters: the change order increases the city’s contract obligations on a major interchange project and, according to staff, is intended to avoid further delays to a 2026 bid schedule. Residents raised concerns about the timing of the vote and the city’s financial exposure.

The council did not attach additional conditions to the change order during the meeting. City staff said the change order covers consultant engineering fees and scope items not previously included; no further cost breakdown was provided during the discussion.