Athens council approves $1.89M TAP sidewalk, $1.00M Day Lane contract and adopts Rebuild Alabama plan

Athens City Council on Aug. 25 approved multiple transportation and street projects, including a $1,889,144 contract for a sidewalk and pedestrian bridge along U.S. 31, a $1,000,641.76 contract to build a new city street called Day Lane, and a transportation plan under the Rebuild Alabama Act estimating the city’s FY25–26 allocation at approximately $311,923.20.

The council approved construction engineering and inspection (CE&I) services with Morrell Engineering at a negotiated price of $187,353.05. Michael Griffin, a city staff member who presented the items, said the CE&I fee was a negotiated professional services price under Alabama law and that the city would return to council if costs looked likely to exceed the estimate. “If item M is not passed, then L won’t go into effect,” Griffin said, explaining the sequencing between the construction contract and the CE&I authorization.

The council authorized a $1,889,144 contract with Miller & Miller Construction Inc. for TAP‑funded sidewalk work along the western side of State Route 3 (U.S. 31) from Elm Street to Juniper Circle. The project includes a pedestrian bridge over Swan Creek, traffic‑signal improvements and a southbound left‑turn lane into the Sportsplex. The council record notes the bridge span is about 180 feet and that Miller & Miller was the only bidder on the project. Federal funds will cover up to $800,000 of the contract with the remainder to be funded from 2024 general obligation warrants.

Separately, the council approved a $1,000,641.76 contract with Grayson Carter & Sons Inc. to construct Day Lane, a new city street (Market Street east to Elm Street/County Road 99) that will include running water and sewer to the economic development site. City staff said the work is part of an economic development phase to provide city‑owned street access to a commercial parcel; the council corrected the item’s name on the record to Day Lane (the 9‑1‑1 designated name). Grayson Carter & Sons was the lone responsive bidder for that contract.

The council also adopted a transportation plan to comply with the Rebuild Alabama Act (listed in the record as Act 2019‑2). The plan estimates the city’s anticipated allocation from the Rebuild Alabama Act Fund for FY25–26 at approximately $311,923.20 and directs potential spending toward specified road projects, including work at Hobbs Street (East Street to U.S. 31) and projects associated with the Athens Housing Authority (the record lists projects as Fifth Avenue Apartments and alternately as “Sanford Road Apartments” and “Santa Fe Road Apartments”; the transcript contained both names). The record shows the council voted unanimously on the plan.

Council members and staff said the sidewalk/bridge project will connect existing sidewalks across Swan Creek and improve crosswalks and sightlines at the Sportsplex intersection; staff noted the project follows safety concerns at the Elm Street crossing and a prior crash in that area. For the Morrell CE&I item, staff described the amount as a negotiated engineering services price rather than a competitive bid. For the Day Lane work, staff said the project will build a required city street as part of the phase that enables commercial access and utility service.

All items passed by unanimous votes (5–0). The council did not set explicit construction start dates during the meeting; staff said federal matching requirements and final contract administration would determine timing, and they will return to the council if additional authorizations are required.

Votes at a glance

• Authorize Morrell Engineering for construction engineering and inspection (CE&I) services for TAP‑TA24908 — $187,353.05 (funded from 2024 general obligation warrants). Outcome: approved, 5–0.

• Authorize mayor to enter agreement with Miller & Miller Construction Inc. to construct TAP‑TA24908 sidewalk and pedestrian bridge (US‑31 from Elm Street to Juniper Circle) — $1,889,144; federal funds up to $800,000, remainder from 2024 general obligation warrants. Outcome: approved, 5–0.

• Authorize mayor to enter agreement with Grayson Carter & Sons Inc. to construct Day Lane (Market Street east to Elm Street/CR 99) — $1,000,641.76. Outcome: approved, 5–0.

• Adopt transportation plan pursuant to the Rebuild Alabama Act (Act 2019‑2), estimated FY25–26 allocation $311,923.20; projects listed include Fifth Avenue Apartments, an Athens Housing Authority apartment project (transcript lists “Sanford Road” and alternately “Santa Fe Road”), and Hobbs Street (East Street to U.S. 31). Outcome: approved, 5–0.

Context and next steps

Staff told the council that the TAP project had been bid and that the bridge and sidewalk bids matched engineering estimates. For the CE&I contract, staff said the fee had been negotiated in keeping with Alabama professional services procurement rules. The council directed that any significant contract overruns or additional required authorizations would be returned to the council for further action. No specific construction start dates were announced at the meeting.