Kalispell awards 4 Mile Drive path contract despite bids above estimate; city to cover roughly $46,000 shortfall

The City of Kalispell awarded the 4 Mile Drive Path Project Monday, approving a $1,054,906 base-bid contract to Straud's Contracting contingent on Montana Department of Transportation approval and availability of additional TA grant funding.

Bidding results exceeded the engineer’s estimate. City staff and the engineering consultant revised the engineer’s estimate upward to bring it within the Transportation Alternatives (TA) program’s allowable margin (15% of bids). The project includes curb-and-gutter work, a multi-use path, a retaining wall and handrail in constrained areas, plus a proposed raised crosswalk to calm traffic at Champion Way.

Why it matters: the project will connect an existing multiuse path at Kids Sports to 4 Mile Drive, close a gap that now forces pedestrians and bicyclists into a discontinuous route and create a safer, continuous connection for nearby neighborhoods. Staff said the work is particularly timely because recent subdivision development has increased pedestrian and neighborhood traffic in the corridor.

Costs and funding: public-works staff said the lowest responsive bid was roughly $1.055 million. The TA grant originally covered the majority of the project; the city must provide local match. Because the bids were higher than the earlier estimate, staff said MDT preliminarily indicated additional TA funds could likely cover the increase if the city provides an added local match of about $46,000. Staff recommended using a combination of unallocated parks cash-in-lieu funds (approximately $18,000) and general-fund contingency to cover the city share.

Bidding options considered: staff outlined three options after the bids came in: (1) revise the engineer’s estimate and request additional TA funding (recommended); (2) reject and rebid (staff said the three lowest bids were within 9% of one another, suggesting market prices are consistent); or (3) reject and terminate the project (which would require repaying about $60,000 in federal funds already spent). Council approved option 1 and authorized award contingent on MDT approval.

Council comments: Councilors said the connection is a safety priority for growing neighborhoods near 4 Mile Drive, and several members expressed reluctance to delay the project. Councilor Hunter called the connection “a really important safety feature.” Several council members said they disliked tapping contingency funds but accepted it given the safety need and the unanticipated bid results.

Next steps: staff will negotiate minor value-engineering items (for example, reducing stamped-concrete details or using a lighter-gauge handrail subject to MDT approval) and finalize agreements with MDT on additional TA funding and any required easement or right-of-way adjustments. Construction timing will follow MDT approvals and contractor scheduling.

Provenance: Project background, bid results and staff recommendation appear in the transcript starting with the public-works presentation (transcript block starting at 6228.5903) and continue through the council motion to award and roll-call vote (transcript blocks from 6800.9497 to 7084.215).