Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pitkin County engineers recommend using carry‑forward savings to pay for Lower River Road paving
Summary
Public Works reported competitive bids for a planned summer overlay on Lower River Road and asked commissioners to approve using savings from prior years (park/carry‑forward funds) to cover scope increases that emerged during design, including ADA ramp work and drainage.
Pitkin County Public Works staff briefed the commissioners on March 25 about a paved overlay project for Lower River Road planned for summer 2025 and asked the board to approve using savings from prior budgets to cover design‑stage scope increases.
Andrew (Public Works) said the project drew three bids on March 13 and the two lowest were competitive while the third was noticeably higher. As design matured staff identified additional required work including drainage improvements, potholing to locate utilities (including a high‑pressure gas line), and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades at multiple Rio Grande Trail crossings. Those scope items raised the estimated project cost above the amount planned in the operating budget.
Staff recommended the board approve moving the project forward and pay the difference from savings carried forward from previous years, which Public Works said are available in a restricted park‑dedication fund that currently holds roughly $730,000. Staff said the fund had been used and then reimbursed in prior years and that finance is comfortable those funds could be applied if the board wanted to proceed; staff asked the board to consider the topic when it reviews carry‑forwards on April 9.
Commissioners asked about timing and whether work could be shifted to fall to get lower prices; Public Works said contractor availability and traffic patterns make a summer construction window preferable, and staff said they would explore using construction managers or consultants to free internal design capacity for future projects.
