Wellington trustees approve $6.23 million contract for Cleveland Avenue improvements

WELLINGTON — The Wellington Board of Trustees on April 14 approved Resolution 11-2026 to award the construction contract for the Cleveland Avenue improvements project to Colson Excavating Company, the lowest qualified bidder at $6,231,678.85.

Lucas Flax, senior engineer with Public Works, told trustees the project has multiple grant funding sources that will reimburse the town for eligible costs, including elements of HB 1466, a highway safety improvement grant (HSIP), and the NHPP program, which together total about $4.4 million in grant reimbursements. Flax also said the town appropriated a little over $7.4 million across three budget lines for the project in the 2026 budget.

Flax summarized the bid process and schedule: eight contractors submitted bids that ranged from about $6.2 million to just under $8 million; CDOT clearance required the town to accept the lowest qualified bid. He said Colson Excavating (Loveland, Colorado) has recent regional experience and recommended awarding the contract. Flax said the town can execute the contract if the board approves, trigger a preconstruction meeting and expect mobilization in May, with construction phased through November and project closeout in February.

A trustee moved to approve Resolution 11-2026 and another trustee seconded; the board voted by roll call to approve the award. No trustee comments indicated opposition.

The contract award authorizes execution of the agreement with a not-to-exceed amount equal to the submitted low bid of $6,231,678.85. Staff said grant funds require reimbursement procedures and that the HB 1466 funds must be spent this year, a schedule staff believes is feasible given the project timeline.

Next steps: Staff will execute the contract, schedule a preconstruction meeting, receive CDOT's official notice to proceed and direct the contractor to begin purchase orders and mobilize.