Council approves change order for Minikota Avenue bridge; members press contractor responsibility for sewer damage

The Hot Springs City Council approved change order No. 1 with Heavy Constructors, Inc. on the Minikota Avenue Bridge (BR8024, PCN09H3) to cover traffic-control signage, increased excavation at both abutments and optional water-main and sidewalk replacement.

Staff described the change order as addressing unanticipated site conditions revealed during work and noted the bridge contractor will perform additional excavation and optional utility and sidewalk work to make the structure and adjacent approaches usable. The transcript records that the change order increases the contract price, but the dollar amounts were garbled in the on‑record readout and are not specified in the meeting transcript.

Council members asked whether the sidewalk work is required for project closeout and whether the contractor is responsible for replacing utilities damaged during construction. Public-works staff said the contractor will replace a sewer segment that was damaged and that water-line upgrades included in the change order would be considered separately; staff indicated the sewer damage repair will be on the contractor’s dime and that some water components may be completed in-house if the council declines to obligate the funds.

The council approved and authorized the mayor to sign the change order after a motion and second and a brief discussion; the motion carried.

Next steps: public works staff will follow up on precise cost accounting, confirm material specifications for water-line replacement, and report at a future public-works meeting. Council directed staff to check whether certain sidewalk items can be removed from the change order before final closeout.