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Commission approves change-order approach to speed Broad Street improvements; staff to return with contract language
Summary
To reduce downtown disruption, the commission agreed to pursue a change-order/construction-completion approach that would pay for added crews to accelerate Broad Street work between 13th and 7th streets; staff and the attorney will craft compliant language and define substantial-completion criteria.
The Augusta Richmond County Commission voted to pursue a change-order approach that would allow the Broad Street contractor to add crews and be compensated to accelerate the Transportation Investment Act roadway project between 13th and 7th streets.
Transportation staff described the chosen procurement method — Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) — as suitable for complex projects and said the department negotiated a lower incentive request than earlier estimated. Commissioners asked for explicit, contract-level definitions of "substantial completion" (lanes and parking open, sidewalks and drainage functioning, access to businesses restored) and for the 500 block (a commercially significant block) to be included in scope discussions.
Attorney Plunkett advised that the final document may be framed as a change order for additional crews to meet the schedule rather than an explicit "incentive" clause, to ensure compliance with procurement law. Commissioners amended the maker's motion to direct staff to return a compliant document with clear success criteria; the motion passed by unanimous consent.
Commissioners stressed the economic implications for downtown businesses and asked for measurable success criteria, such as open lanes, access to parking and operational drainage, before any accelerated-payment adjustments would be released to the contractor.
