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Committee approves $382,087 change order for Munasquotucket River Greenway amid utility conflicts and delays
Summary
The committee approved a $382,087.25 change order to extend construction administration and field support for the Munasquotucket River Greenway project after crews encountered unmarked utilities and other unforeseen conditions. City staff said the extra work is CIP-funded and the project timeline now extends to September 2025.
The Providence City Committee on Finance on Feb. 11 approved a change order totaling approximately $382,087.25 to expand construction administration and on-site support for the Munasquotucket River Greenway construction contract.
Jess Lance, identified in the meeting as director of technical projects for planning and development, told the committee that as construction progressed crews discovered multiple conflicts with existing utilities — including an unmarked water main — and differences between site conditions and previously performed test pits. Those conditions required on-the-fly redesign and additional field engineering, the presentation said.
Staff explained the approved change order expands time in the field for Bowman (the lead engineer/contract administrator) and retains Right Hand Solutions as a full-time, on-site presence to manage day-to-day construction coordination. Right Hand Solutions’ project administrator, Robert Vera, and lead landscape architect Marcy Whitten were cited as the on-site personnel responsible for addressing design changes and utility coordination.
Officials told the committee the change order falls within the project’s contingency and that the work is funded through the city’s capital improvement program (CIP). “This project has hit a bunch of snags and it was delayed for a long time,” Lance said, describing field conditions and the need for closer construction administration; staff estimated the schedule now extends to September 2025 because of winter shutdowns and the additional work.
Committee members pressed staff on whether the change order required shifting funds from other projects. City staff said the additional $382,087.25 is covered entirely by CIP funding and does not require reallocating other project budgets.
The committee moved and approved the change order by voice vote. Committee members also discussed change‑order management and the use of project contingency to absorb unforeseen site conditions. Staff said the project team negotiated the hourly and time costs presented and that consultants and the city’s reviewer had scrutinized the proposed amounts before the committee vote.
The city will continue to report project schedule and cost updates to the committee as the construction administration work proceeds.
