Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Council presses for a lower‑cost pedestrian bridge after 90% design cost spike; staff and Friese Nichols offer alternatives
Summary
Friese Nichols reported a 90% design quantity error that raised construction estimates from about $14.6M to $23.4M. Staff presented three bridge options and two alternatives; council expressed a clear preference for Option 1B (prestressed concrete girder) and asked staff to return with costs for overlooks and lighting and a plan for temporary pedestrian access during vehicular bridge work.
City staff and design consultant Friese Nichols told the Georgetown City Council that a quantity error discovered at the 90% design stage substantially increased the estimated construction costs for the planned Austin Avenue pedestrian bridges.
Assistant City Manager Nick Woolery said the project's construction estimate rose from an earlier $14.6 million (60% design) to about $23.4 million at 90% design, driven largely by an increased quantity of steel rather than unit‑price escalation. Friese Nichols's Brian Coltharp addressed the council, apologized for the mistake, said the firm has revised its project team, offered value engineering options and a partial refund…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
