Council authorizes $981,449 amendment to design contract for 6th Street bridge and riverfront project

The Rochester City Council unanimously approved a $981,449 contract amendment on Feb. 18 with Bolton & Menk to support additional preliminary design, hydraulic modeling, environmental analysis and public engagement for the 6th Street Bridge, Neighborhood Safety and Riverfront Improvement Project (project J7919).

Sampson Brown outlined that the project is roughly 90% through design, that additional iterations were required after initial hydraulic and permitting analysis (including adding piers where a clear-span bridge proved infeasible), and that permitting will involve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA and coordination with Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad for adjacent right-of-way and construction agreements. He said the project team also negotiated design refinements including revised drop-off sequencing at Riverside Elementary and added streetscape and riverfront enhancements.

Brown noted the amendment amount represents approximately 13.5% of the project’s current estimated construction cost of about $28–29 million, which he said falls within typical industry standards for complex projects. Councilmembers discussed value engineering and the risk of removing desirable project features late in the process; staff described measures taken to retain core project outcomes and to present some items as bid alternates if needed.

Councilmember Keane moved to authorize the amendment; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.