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Gahanna recommends millions‑dollar street rebuild contract and Taylor Road water main replacement
Summary
Administration recommended awarding the 2025 street rebuild and waterline replacement contract to Elite Excavating Co. (lowest responsive bidder) and a separate Taylor Road water main replacement to Shelley & Sands; work will start in January with phased construction and resident petition rules kept sidewalks off some streets.
City staff recommended awarding two 2025 infrastructure contracts and outlined schedules and resident communication plans at the Dec. 8 Committee of the Whole.
2025 Street Rebuild and Waterline Replacement Program
City staff presented the 2025 Street Rebuild and Waterline Replacement program for Laura (sometimes referenced as Laurel) Drive, Heil Drive, and Rocky Fork Drive North. Staff said seven bids were received and recommended awarding the contract to Elite Excavating Company of Ohio Incorporated as the lowest and most responsive bidder.
The contract was described as totaling about $2.9 million, with an accepted alternate bid of about $123,000 to use highly recycled asphalt and a 10% contingency (about $272,000) for unforeseen construction costs. Staff also noted the contract documents need a minor amendment to update retainage terms to reflect a recent Ohio Revised Code change reducing retainage from 8% to 4%, and said the updated contract will be attached for first reading.
Council asked about timing and impacts. Staff said Columbia Gas is already performing related work in the area and that waterline work is expected to begin in January. The street rebuild portion is planned to begin after school ends, with waterline installation and interim asphalt patching occurring first. Staff said each street’s reconstruction work was expected to take about two weeks, with Laura and Heil handled sequentially for roughly a month total; Rocky Fork Drive North was described as more straightforward as a single stretch.
Sidewalk petitions
Councilmembers also discussed sidewalk installation policy. Staff explained that new sidewalk installation requires a resident petition that is weighted by property frontage and must meet a statutory threshold (staff cited 60%). Staff said the sidewalk petition for the Heil/Laura area did not meet that threshold, so new sidewalk installation on Heil was not included in the program. Staff described multiple efforts to contact residents during the petition process, including letters, follow-up visits, and a community meeting.
Taylor Road Water Main Replacement
On a separate item, staff presented the Taylor Road water main replacement between Morrison and Helmbrite. The project will replace an existing 12-inch water main (installed in 1964) with a 16-inch main and includes related valve/hydrant work and site restoration. Staff also said the project will upgrade roughly 1,600 feet of north-side residential sidewalk to city standards.
Staff said seven bids were received and recommended awarding the contract to Shelly and Sands as the lowest and most responsive bidder. The contract cost was described as just over $2.5 million, including a 10% contingency, with an estimated schedule of about nine months, from January through September for substantial completion. Staff indicated the road is expected to remain open but restricted, with lane configuration adjusted during construction.
Communications and outreach
For both projects, staff described standard resident notification steps such as letters, sign boards, door hangers, and an FAQ-style explanation of what to expect during a rebuild. Councilmembers encouraged broader communication for impacted traffic patterns—especially along Taylor Road and school routes—and staff said the city’s communications team is developing a plan, with an initial notification letter expected to go out around January.
