Council closes out Tenth Street Bridge with final change order after months of delay; officials cite material procurement and utility conflicts

KATY, Texas — The Katy City Council on Aug. 11 approved Change Order No. 3 on the Tenth Street Bridge replacement project, a reduction of $125,071.80 that brought the contract total to $2,765,132.56 and moved the work into a one‑year warranty period.

Council members pressed staff about the months‑long delays that stretched the project schedule. City staff and the contractor cited several drivers: difficulty procuring specialized materials (retaining‑wall materials and bridge deck beams), field conflicts that required the city water line to be replaced, utility relocations by private companies and weather days. Staff said the contractor frequently had personnel on site but that procurement and scheduling constraints slowed progress.

“They were given a very short time frame to do the job,” a city staff member said. “Given the state we’re in with procuring materials, it’s very difficult these days…but it’s not a hundred percent one way or the other.”

Councilmember Janet Court pressed for assurance that outstanding punch‑list items would be tracked. City staff said the construction contractor’s punch list has been completed for contract closeout, but additional resident requests remain and staff will pursue those items separately and will require the contractor to return under the one‑year warranty if needed.

Officials also discussed previously required rework and additional corrective efforts that contributed to delay and cost adjustments. Councilmember Roy Robertson asked how much of the delay was controllable; staff answered that some elements could have been handled differently by contractor and owner scheduling and that the lesson will inform future project timelines.

Why it matters

The Tenth Street Bridge project has been a multi‑year, high‑profile capital undertaking for the city. Closing the construction contract and entering the warranty phase is a key administrative step that transfers remaining corrective responsibilities to warranty enforcement rather than active construction management.

What council decided

Council approved the change order and authorized the project closeout accounting as presented. Staff will continue to monitor and require warranty work for any remaining or future defects.

Provenance (transcript excerpts)

- Topic introduced and project totals recited in the agenda item description (transcript ~00:19:27–00:20:05).

- Council discussion and staff responses on procurement, utility relocations and warranty phase (transcript ~00:20:50–00:27:00).