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Council OKs design contract for North Dean Road and Opelika Road intersection improvements
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Summary
Auburn approved a $612,370 engineering services task order with 3 Notch Group Inc. to design intersection and corridor improvements on North Dean Road. Staff said design should take six to nine months with construction targeted in 2027 and noted CSX permitting as a potential schedule wildcard.
The Auburn City Council authorized a task-order engineering contract April 21 with 3 Notch Group Inc. for design services on the North Dean Road and Opelika Road intersection improvement project.
City staff said the design contract is for $612,370 and covers improvements along North Dean Road from Harper Avenue to Aspen Heights Lane, including intersection and turn-lane work. Mayor and staff said the design phase target is six to nine months with the city aiming to advertise for construction near the end of 2026 and begin construction in calendar 2027, with an approximate one-year construction window.
Staff warned that coordination with CSX Railroad is a major schedule and cost wildcard; permitting and in-right-of-way work with CSX could require additional resources and hourly oversight that would affect the budget and timeline. The contract includes a contingency of roughly $75,000 to address unknowns such as permitting needs.
Council members described the corridor as heavily traveled and acknowledged construction will be disruptive but necessary. The council approved the contract by voice vote and asked staff to return with further details as the design phase proceeds.
The decision commits design funding under the city's capital planning framework and schedules the project subject to procurement, permitting and fiscal-year funding alignment for construction in FY2027.
