Brighton council approves $1.01 million contract to finish Bridge Street ditch crossing

Brighton’s City Council on Jan. 13 voted 9–0 to approve a $1,005,265 construction contract to complete the Brighton Lateral ditch crossing at Bridge Street, finishing remaining storm and water-line work tied to the earlier Bridge Street widening project.

City Manager Martinez said the contract is intended to wrap up the larger Bridge Street project, calling this “hopefully the final piece of the Bridge Street project.” Director Olsen outlined the work that the contract covers: installing the missing segment of storm sewer under the Brighton Lateral irrigation ditch, replacing a short section of asbestos-concrete potable water line with PVC to reduce risk, and pouring the final portion of the concrete trail that crosses the ditch.

Olsen told council staff solicited bids for two construction approaches (a trenchless/boring method and an open-cut option) and coordinated an updated ditch crossing agreement with the Brighton Ladder Ditch Company. “We received four submissions and all of those were deemed responsive by procurement,” Olsen said, and staff recommended awarding to the lowest, most responsive and responsible bidder; the contract amount proposed to the council was $1,005,265. Olsen said the engineer’s estimate was about $1.2 million and that the contract includes a $250,000 contingency; the city manager also has $100,527 in change-order authority.

Olsen said staff required the contractor to avoid any utility service interruptions to the nearby Eastgate subdivision. He described traffic impacts to the council: the far outer eastbound lane of Bridge Street will be closed for several weeks while the inner eastbound lane and both westbound lanes remain open. After council asked for clarification, Olsen reiterated that “only the far eastbound lane will be the only one that is impacted” and that the closure is to protect the trench and construction workers.

Schedule details presented to council call for contractor mobilization on Jan. 19, 2026, construction activity through Feb. 23, 2026, and restoration and final closeout from Feb. 23 to March 6, 2026; Olsen said the worst-case lane closure window would run from Jan. 19 to about March 6.

Councilmembers asked questions about budget and prior project savings. Councilmember Snyder confirmed the $250,000 is contingency and that unused contingency would return to the fund if not spent. Councilmember Taddeo asked whether the city had previously worked with the recommended contractor; Olsen said the city has worked with the firm before and staff were satisfied with past work. Councilmember Carbajal asked whether earlier savings from the Bridge Street widening would cover the remaining scope; Olsen said prior change orders and other savings were returned to the fund and could be applied to this work.

Councilmember Green moved to approve item 3A; the motion was seconded and the council approved the contract by a roll-call vote of 9–0. Following the vote, Director Olsen thanked the council. Mayor Mills adjourned the special meeting and noted the group would reconvene upstairs shortly.

The contract award is final as adopted by the council that evening; the staff presentation indicated construction is scheduled to begin Jan. 19, 2026, with restoration completed by March 6, 2026.