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BET approves additional funding and bonding steps for North Street Bridge rehabilitation
Summary
The BET approved an additional appropriation of roughly $1.06 million for the North Street Bridge rehabilitation, with most of the project expected to be covered by a state LOTS grant; the contract includes a completion incentive of up to $200,000 and a daily penalty if the work overruns.
The Budget & Appropriations Committee approved an additional appropriation to advance the North Street Bridge rehabilitation after public works staff reported bids came in higher than expected following scope changes to allow a full closure during work.
Jim Michael, the town's commissioner of public works, said the department revised the construction approach to close North Street for the work rather than rely on alternating traffic signals. That design change, combined with rising bid prices, led the department to request roughly $1.06 million in additional funding to bring the total project authorization to about $4.76 million.
Most of the project is grant funded: Michael said about $4.26 million of the total would be reimbursed under the state's Local Transportation Capital Improvements program (identified in the meeting as the LOTS program). The town will pay nonparticipating items (roughly $500,000) including an early-completion incentive and other local work.
Incentives and schedule protections: The contract includes an early-completion incentive that can pay up to $200,000 if the contractor reopens the road ahead of the milestone (the incentive scales with earlier completion), and a liquidated damages provision that imposes a per-day penalty for missed openings. "If they finish by August 21st, they get the full incentive ... if they go over the end date, it's a $40,000 per day penalty," Michael said. The department also increased the construction contingency to 15% to reduce the need for special meetings to authorize change orders if unforeseen conditions arise.
Why it matters: The bridge was identified in the capital plan after a storm event revealed structural issues; the crossing is in a busy area near schools and downtown. Project staff said the LOTS grant pays eligible contingencies and construction incidentals and that the town typically receives the state funds once the contractor award has been authorized.
Outcome: BET approved the appropriation and a related bonding resolution to authorize borrowing for the project; bond counsel recommended authorizing the full amount and deauthorizing unused portions after grant reimbursements and final accounting are complete.
Ending: Public works staff asked that the item be scheduled prominently on the full BET agenda before the RTM meeting that same evening so the RTM could consider the item with the most up-to-date BET action.
