Commission approves engineering contracts, supplements, county bridge grants and $270,508 settlement

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission approved a series of contract actions, grant awards and a contractor settlement during its April meeting.

Engineering contracts: The commission approved on‑demand contracts for ancillary structure safety inspections (Burgess & Niple Inc. and Consor North America Inc., combined $1,500,000) and International Roughness Index verification testing (CSC Corporation and WSB, LLC, combined $500,000). The department also consolidated prior bridge assessment and rehabilitation contracts into one contract selecting 16 firms with a combined value of $8,000,000.

Contract supplements: Commissioners approved multiple supplements (item 45), including a $4,000,000 supplement for the owner's representative role on the Roosevelt Bridge progressive design‑build to act as an extension of ODOT staff during final design; a third supplement for Benham Design for three McAlester rail‑related bridge locations (construction let dates scheduled in federal fiscal year 2032); a $936,630 supplement for Garver for I‑40 bridges over Sunnylane Road; a $7,717,455 supplement for Poe & Associates for I‑40 bridges over MacArthur Boulevard and Meridian Avenue; and a $163,920 supplement for Olson Inc. for resurfacing and shoulder work on State Highway 58 in Comanche County.

Change orders and information items: Item 46 presented change orders with cumulative totals of $150,000 or less for information only. Item 47 presented change orders with cumulative totals greater than $150,000; the commission approved the recommended change orders after noting projects and numbers are scrutinized in subcommittee review.

Claim settlement: The commission authorized a $270,508.85 settlement to Lopp Construction for additional work on an emergency bridge replacement on State Highway 71 in Muskogee County. Shawn Davis said the original contract, awarded Oct. 6, 2025, was $2,536,981.05 for a 180‑day job; an unexpected water line located within excavation limits required a bore and relocation, producing the negotiated change and exceeding the 10% statutory limit on new items for contracts over $1 million. The department recommended and the commission authorized the settlement amount.

PACT county bridge fund: The commission approved awarding $10,771,400 from the Preserving and Advancing County Transportation (PACT) Fund to 10 counties to repair or replace 16 structurally‑deficient bridges. The presenter noted PACT authority under Title 69, Oklahoma statute 508 and said the awards strengthen local networks and public safety.

Bids and awards: The commission approved the final May 2026 and tentative June and July 2026 bid opening schedules and approved recommended awards from the March 12 and March 19 bid openings (multiple call orders listed). Two call orders were recommended for rejection and the presenter corrected a call order numbering during remarks.

Director updates and safety messaging: Director Tim Gatz highlighted the department's use of price indexes (fuel and asphalt binder) to share volatility risk with contractors, previewed Route 66 Centennial activities and ribbon cuttings, and emphasized work‑zone safety: the state proclaimed April 20–24 as Work Zone Safety Awareness Week; April 22 is Go Orange Day and April 30 will be a moment of silence for fallen workers. Gatz urged motorists to slow down, put phones away and buckle seat belts in work zones.

All motions on the items summarized above were moved, seconded and recorded as "motion passes" in the transcript; the meeting concluded with adjournment.