Commission recommends $32.6 million Ross Road North contract with Denucci Contractors

The City of Austin Water and Wastewater Commission on Feb. 19 recommended approval of a construction contract for the 2020 Bond Substandard Streets project, Ross Road North, with Denucci Contractors LLC for $29,650,594 plus a contingency of $2,965,059.40, for a total contract amount not to exceed $32,615,653.40. The commission voted unanimously to forward the recommendation to City Council.

According to the staff report presented to the commission, $29,669,890.33 is available in the Transportation and Public Works capital budget and $2,945,762.07 is available in the Austin Water capital budget to fund the contract. Commissioners raised questions about how water‑related infrastructure within the project is funded and how bid items are apportioned among partner departments.

Kevin Koehler, listed in the meeting transcript as division manager, Austin Water, explained that the project includes extensive water infrastructure and that the city coordinates bid items across partner agencies to capture efficiencies. "We break this down in coordination with our partner agencies where their bid items...and then we get the bid items, and we look at that," he said, describing the shared-site benefits that reduce mobilization and environmental-control costs.

Commissioner Seon moved to approve the recommendation; Commissioner Reyes seconded. Chairing commissioners called for a hand vote and recorded a unanimous result. No recusals were recorded.

The contract as presented is for construction services tied to the 2020 bond program and includes a contingency to cover potential change orders. Staff indicated they could perform a further analysis of bid line‑item breakdowns if commissioners wanted additional detail before council consideration.

The commission moved on to other agenda items after the unanimous vote. The contract will appear on a future City Council agenda for final authorization and award.