Richland County approves $3.15 million resurfacing contract; transportation staff outline project timelines and right-of-way delays

Richland County Council on Monday approved a $2,739,000 contract to Armstrong Contractors LLC for Resurfacing Package U and authorized a 15% contingency, bringing the total approved amount to $3,149,850.

The county’s procurement director, Jennifer Ladyskin, told the council Armstrong was the lowest responsive, responsible bidder among four bids received and that the bids ranged from about $2.7 million to $4.9 million. She said the county has worked with Armstrong on similar projects in the past and that the company had successfully completed comparable work previously.

Director Maloney, representing the county transportation staff, said the resurfacing work in the package covers parts of Districts 8 and 9 and includes more than simple mill-and-fill operations. Pavement condition index scores for the included sections range from about 20 to about 40 (100 is new pavement), Maloney said, and work will include patching, curb-and-gutter repair and full-depth pavement in some locations. The county’s resurfacing account had roughly $6,500,000 remaining before this award, Maloney said.

Council members unanimously approved the award. A roll-call vote recorded all members present as voting yes.

The council then heard an extended transportation update from county staff covering active construction, right-of-way work, upcoming public information meetings and project sequencing. Staff member Mr. Mueller and Director Maloney outlined several items: Shop Road Extension phase 2 will have a public information open house this week to present three layout alternatives; an Irmo town council meeting on May 6 will include an update on the Broad River Road widening; the Greenways Commission meets May 19 and will review greenway projects; and the Percival sidewalk and Sunset Drive sidewalk projects remain under construction with staggered completions expected this summer and in September.

Maloney said the Blythewood Road widening project (south side work) is scheduled for substantial completion in September, with a contractor shifting traffic to the south side to allow north-side work to continue. He also described Atlas Road widening, where utility relocation is ongoing and full roadway contracting will follow the relocation work and DOT approvals.

Staff identified right-of-way acquisition capacity as a key bottleneck. Maloney said the county has acquired 112 of about 115 properties needed on Broad River Road and is using subcontracts through on-call engineering teams (OETs) to expand appraisal and negotiation capacity, but additional agents and appraisers remain a limiting factor. He said the county is looking at staffing additions in the upcoming budget to help manage acquisitions and other program needs.

Maloney also reported a permitting denial from CSX tied to a restrictive covenant on a Vulcan property affecting the Smith Rocky Branch Greenway design; the county intends to redesign that segment to avoid the parcel. He described the county’s recently approved list of 15 OETs, which will assist with project photos, mapping, traffic counts and other work needed to justify improvements and to align county plans with local municipal plans and DOT requirements.

Council member Singh thanked staff for progress on Montgomery Shoals Road (referred to in the meeting as Montgomery Shop Road extension) and other projects, noting constituent praise for recent paving work in District 10. Maloney said staff is proposing new positions, including a staff role to coordinate greenways and bike/ped planning, in the upcoming budget.

Other updates included projects in design or right-of-way on Pineview Road, Spears Creek Church Road, Lower Richland Boulevard and corridor safety work on Broad River corridor driveways and intersections. Several sidewalk and greenway projects were described as authorized or in early right-of-way stages.

The county adjourned after the reports and routine votes.

Quotes in this article are taken from the council meeting transcript: "We've done business with Armstrong, for many years," said Jennifer Ladyskin, procurement director. Director Maloney described pavement condition indexes and project scope: "These projects had PCI ratings ... from 20 up to about 40 ... it's not just a mill and fill." Council member Singh offered praise for staff work: "I just wanted to, thank Director Maloney for your hard, hard, hard work," and noted constituent appreciation in District 10.