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Box Elder council awards $2.64 million Eastmont Drive bridge contract; action contingent on SD DOT approval
Summary
At a March 27 special meeting, the Box Elder City Council voted to award a $2,641,037.24 contract to Hoskinson Contracting LLC for the Eastmont Drive (Bennett Road) bridge replacement, contingent on concurrence from the South Dakota Department of Transportation; council also approved a procedural agenda change and a forthcoming budget amendment.
The Box Elder City Council on March 27 voted to award a $2,641,037.24 contract to Hoskinson Contracting LLC of Gillette to replace the Eastmont Drive structure (also referenced as the Bennett Road Bridge), contingent on approval from the South Dakota Department of Transportation.
City Engineer Scott Lang told the council the special meeting was scheduled because it had been 30 days since bids opened and state guidance favors action before that window lapses. "The reason we're considering this tonight as opposed to waiting to Tuesday was this is the thirtieth day since we opened bids," Lang said. He summarized the bids as "really, really good" and recommended the award to Hoskinson based on their staff experience and the city's review of their financing and references.
Lang described the project funding and timing: an earlier estimate near $2.6 million, a state grant on the order of $2.8 million, and a state program that can cover up to 80% of eligible costs. He said the city's portion was not budgeted for 2025 and that the city plans to carry its share into the 2026 budget. "We do have to move a power line... The total amount of the power line shifts probably about $100,000 but we can push a lot of that into 2026 as well," Lang said.
On schedule, Lang estimated the work typically would take six to eight months and that the contractor believed it could finish by October if construction starts in July. He also noted the existing bridge will remain in service because the new alignment does not require immediate removal of the old structure.
A councilmember moved to award the Eastmont Drive structure replacement project (BRO80520023-1, PCN 09GR) to Hoskinson Contracting LLC in the amount of $2,641,037.24, noting the award was "contingent upon South Dakota Department of Transportation approval." The motion was seconded and passed by roll-call vote.
The council also approved a procedural change to add public comment as item 5b earlier in the meeting and was told staff will present a budget amendment to capture the grant revenue and corresponding 2025 expenses for the project.
Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve order of business with addition of public comment — mover: Councilmember Knight; second: Councilmember Davis; result: approved by roll call (ayes recorded). - Motion to award Eastmont Drive structure replacement to Hoskinson Contracting LLC for $2,641,037.24, contingent on South Dakota DOT approval — mover: Councilmember Davis; second: Councilmember Schubert; result: approved by roll call (ayes recorded). - Motion to adjourn — mover: Councilmember Schubert; second: Councilmember Talich; result: approved.
Next steps: staff will forward the contract documents to the South Dakota Department of Transportation for concurrence and prepare a budget amendment for council consideration to record grant revenue and related expenses.
