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Council and staff press contractor over slow progress on 20 Fifth Street project
Summary
Public works and town leaders described staffing and schedule problems on the 20 Fifth Street reconstruction project and said the town may pursue contract remedies if delays cause extra expense; the project’s substantial completion is contractually November 2025 and final completion January 2026.
Speakers at the Town of Speedway’s Aug. 11 meeting described ongoing delays and contractor staffing problems on the 20 Fifth Street reconstruction project and said the town is prepared to enforce contract terms, including potential liquidated-damages claims, if the contractor’s performance causes additional expense.
Jared Sutton, public-works director, told council crews were dealing with the contractor’s manpower shortages on site and that the contractor had at times paused work while awaiting more-skilled crews. “We’re struggling in just manpower with our contractor that we have,” Sutton said. He reported the contractor was backfilling behind a newly poured curb and that completed curb and asphalt had been of good quality when work was done.
Town Manager Grant Kleinheinz and other staff explained weather and unforeseen utility conflicts contributed to early delays but said the contract’s substantial-completion date is November 2025, with final completion in January 2026. Kleinheinz reminded council that the town can pursue contractual remedies when delays cause demonstrated costs; he cited a prior local project where liquidated damages reduced a contractor’s pay request.
Council members and staff discussed immediate operational effects: the 20 Fifth Street work coincides with the start of school and associated drop-off traffic, and members thanked police and school officials for traffic planning on the first day. Councilor Sean Harold and others pressed staff on what the town is doing to keep future phases from repeating the same problems. Kleinheinz said the town has given the 20 Fifth contractor guidance for the next phase — including not to remove the entire roadway before verifying subgrade conditions — and has placed the project’s consultant on notice that errors creating demobilization or rework costs could be subject to contract claims.
Public-works staff described next steps: monitoring contractor staffing, addressing sidewalk grade transitions at house lead walks, and applying liquidated damages if contractual milestones are missed. Sutton said the contractor’s curb machine had been out of service on one day and that heavy rain early in the season had worsened geotechnical conditions and slowed proof-roll acceptance in places.
The council emphasized oversight: staff said they will hold the contractor accountable per contract terms and that they have a plan to limit unnecessary full-depth removals in the second phase. Councilors asked staff to continue regular public updates, and the town manager said staff would present further project updates and any escalations at future council meetings if needed.
No formal motion about the 20 Fifth project was on the Aug. 11 agenda; the discussion served as a status report and direction to staff to monitor contractor performance and enforce contract terms if delays cause additional cost to the town.
