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Federal Way committee forwards $80,000 contract increase for 21st Avenue at S. 320th signal project
Summary
City staff told the Land Use & Transportation Committee that the 21st Avenue/South 320th signal and pedestrian crossing project needs an additional $80,000 because of cost overruns, contractor default and unforeseen field conditions; the committee voted to forward the item to the April 21 consent agenda.
Federal Way city staff asked the Land Use & Transportation Committee on April 6 to authorize an additional $80,000 for the 21st Avenue at South 320th traffic signal and Z‑shaped pedestrian crossing project.
“I'm here tonight to talk about the 21st Avenue and South 320th signal project,” said Kathy Davis, who presented the item and described the project's history, including an initial construction contract awarded in January 2024 for about $1.2 million and a replacement contract awarded in September 2025 for roughly $200,000 after the original contractor was removed.
Davis told the committee the city has exhausted much of the existing contingency and is requesting an $80,000 increase to the current construction contract (bringing the contract total to about $283,000) to cover cost overruns, unanticipated conflicts and an expanded scope of work. She said some additional costs — including roughly $218,000 in unpaid retainage and other delay expenses — are expected to be addressed through bonding‑company reimbursement but that the city must plan for cash flow now.
Committee members pressed for details about the contractor removal and field problems. Davis said the original contractor fell behind schedule and left key tasks incomplete, such as labeling wires inside signal heads and accounting for buried concrete panels that complicated foundations. “We did give them many, many opportunities … just weren't able to do that in the end,” she said.
Councilmembers also asked about construction management charges. Davis described about $160,000 in staff time billed to the project for inspectors, project managers and supporting technicians; she said the bonding company will review and likely reimburse the portion of staff time tied directly to the contractor's default.
Chair Jack Walsh confirmed there was council consensus and the committee voted to forward the expenditure authorization to the April 21 consent agenda by unanimous voice vote.
Next steps: the item will appear on the April 21 consent agenda for full council approval.
