Indianapolis Board of Public Works approves multiple construction contracts, amendments and final acceptances

The Indianapolis Board of Public Works on March 26 approved a series of construction contract awards, contract amendments and final acceptances covering sidewalks, bridges, greenways and vehicle services.

The actions adopted by the board included a $22.7 million contract for rehabilitation of the Union Station bridges, final acceptance of a $8.21 million Morris Street reconstruction contract, awards for two greenway projects and several change orders and professional-service amendments. The board held brief staff presentations and approved each item by voice vote.

The board prioritized large infrastructure work at Union Station. Jason Watt, administrator of construction for DPW Engineering, told the board the engineering division recommended awarding BM-25-182, Union Station Bridge Rehabilitation, to William Charles Construction Company, LLC, “in the total not to exceed amount of $22,723,000.00” as the lowest responsible bidder. Watt said the project includes rehabilitation of Union Station bridges over Capitol Avenue and Illinois Street and related streetscape improvements; substantial completion is scheduled for Aug. 18, 2026, and final completion Oct. 2, 2026. He noted the engineer’s estimate was about $20.15 million and the low bid was roughly 10% higher than that estimate.

Watt also presented the board with a final-acceptance recommendation for ST-31-060, Morris Street (Bridal over Eagle Creek to Harding Street), with Calumet Civil Contractors, Inc., for a final contract amount of $8,212,287.03. The board approved final acceptance by voice vote.

Smaller but notable awards included sidewalk and curb work and two greenway projects. The board approved awarding CW-24-002 (access curb, sidewalk and ramps 2024) to Milestone Contractors LP for a not-to-exceed amount of $586,507; Watt said that amount was about 8.3% higher than the engineer’s estimate of $537,938.25. The board approved two walk-on bid awards because staff sought to proceed before an upcoming absence: PA-25-003 Pogue’s Run Greenway Phase 3 (Brookside Park to Pogue’s Run Art and Nature Park) was awarded to Morphy Construction, Inc., for $1,520,000 (Watt said this was about 11.6% below the engineer’s estimate), and GT-21-001 Grassy Creek Greenway Phase 1 (Mithoeffer Road to Carroll Road) was awarded to Calumet Civil Contractors, Inc., for $2,238,000, roughly 2.5% above the engineer’s estimate. Watt described the greenway projects as multiuse trails and pedestrian improvements; in response to a board question he said the multiuse paths will accommodate walking, biking and running.

The board authorized several change orders and amendments. It approved final acceptance and change order No. 3 (final) for AL-25-365 Chatham Arch Alleys and Mary Street Reconstruction with Evans Development Company, Inc., with no net cost change and a 44-day reduction in completion time. For ED-24-001 Annex at Sixteenth Infrastructure Improvements with Morphy Construction, Inc., the board approved change order No. 3, a net decrease of $14,821.74; Watt said the change included a 12-day reduction to substantial completion and an addition of 101 days to the final completion date to account for adjustments including repairs after an auto accident.

The board ratified an amendment to a professional services agreement for concrete rehabilitation (ST-24-114) with BLA Inc.; Watt said Amendment No. 1 updated rates and extended the agreement to Dec. 31, 2026, with no change to the total agreement amount of $679,473.44. John Bowen, DPW chief engineer, presented Amendment 5 to ENG-20,016 (On-Call Transportation Design Services) with Clark Deats Incorporated, asking for a $100,000 increase to bring the agreement to $1.2 million and extend it to Dec. 31, 2027. Bowen said the added funding would be used for finishing design deliverables for BM-21044 (Midhofer Bridge over Bells Run) and a scoping report for BM-21076 (Raymond Street Bridge over the White River); he added the amendment included a temporary pedestrian bridge to provide school access while the Midhofer Bridge is under construction.

The board approved a one-year term agreement for vehicle alignment and suspension services with two vendors—Andersen Spring Service, Inc., and Palmer Trucks, Inc.—to serve Indianapolis Fleet Services and the Indianapolis Fire Department. Brian Kavanaugh, general counsel for DPW, told the board expenditures under the agreements over the one-year term are estimated at $950,000; he said the Office of Minority and Women Business Development waived XPD participation requirements because the services lack subcontracting opportunities.

All agenda items were adopted by voice vote with motions and seconders recorded in the meeting minutes; none of the items drew extended debate. Chair and DPW director Todd Wilson presided. Staff said some items were placed on the agenda as walk-ons because key staff will be on leave at the next scheduled meeting on April 9.

Votes at a glance (all approved by voice vote): - CW-24-002 (access curb, sidewalk and ramps 2024): Award to Milestone Contractors LP, not to exceed $586,507; mover Bob Perron; second Dan Hake. Engineer’s estimate $537,938.25; low bid ~8.3% above estimate. - BM-25-182 (Union Station Bridge Rehabilitation): Award to William Charles Construction Company, LLC, not to exceed $22,723,000; mover (motion presented by staff); second noted in public record. Engineer’s estimate ~$20,149,200.16; low bid ~10% above estimate. - AL-25-365 (Chatham Arch Alleys and Mary Street Reconstruction): Change order No. 3 (final acceptance) with Evans Development Company, Inc.; $0 net increase; 44 days decreased to substantial and final completion dates; mover Bob Perron; second Dan Hake. - ED-24-001 (Annex at Sixteenth Infrastructure Improvements): Change order No. 3 with Morphy Construction, Inc.; net decrease $14,821.74; 12 days decreased to substantial completion and 101 days added to final completion; mover Susie Corti; second Bob Perron. Staff said the timing adjustment reflected repair work after an auto accident that damaged DPW assets. - ST-24-114 (concrete rehabilitation 2024, CCMG): Ratify and execute Amendment No. 1 with BLA Inc.; no cost change, agreement amount $679,473.44; extends expiration to Dec. 31, 2026; mover Stepeka Jiwanda; second Dan Hake. - ENG-20,016 (On-Call Transportation Design Services): Amendment No. 5 with Clark Deats Incorporated; increase $100,000 to a $1.2 million not-to-exceed amount; extends to Dec. 31, 2027; mover Bob Perron; second Dan Hake. Bowen said additional funds cover Midhofer Bridge design and a scoping report for Raymond Street Bridge. - ST-31-060 (Morris Street): Final acceptance with Calumet Civil Contractors, Inc.; final contract amount $8,212,287.03; mover (motion presented by staff); second Dan Hake. - PA-25-003 (Pogue’s Run Greenway Phase 3): Award to Morphy Construction, Inc.; $1,520,000; mover Susie Corti; second Sabeke Jowanda. Watt said the project includes a separated multiuse path, pedestrian intersection improvements and new bike lanes; estimated substantial completion March 31, 2026. - GT-21-001 (Grassy Creek Greenway Phase 1): Award to Calumet Civil Contractors, Inc.; $2,238,000; mover Lehi Schulte; second recorded in minutes. Watt said the project is a multiuse trail along an abandoned rail corridor; substantial completion scheduled Dec. 31, 2025. - Vehicle alignment and suspension services (RFB 14DPW1647): One-year agreements to Andersen Spring Service, Inc., and Palmer Trucks, Inc.; estimated one-year expenditures $950,000; mover Leslie Scholte; second recorded in minutes.

The board adjourned after completing the agenda. Staff and members noted some items were advanced so work would not be delayed while key staff are on leave at the April 9 meeting.