Richmond approves $21,455 watermain change order and authorizes valve installations

The Richmond City Council on Sept. 23 approved a change order and additional valve work tied to the city’s watermain replacement project.

Engineers from Olsson reported crews discovered a water line shown on the plans that was not present at the Lexington and College intersection. To ensure proper service and flow, the project team reconfigured the tie-in and extended the new waterline about 180 feet south on College Street to a fire hydrant. Council approved Change Order No. 1, which increases the contract by $21,455; the overall contract price is reported in the meeting record as $291,598 (correcting a punctuation error in the transcript).

Council also authorized installation of EZ valves by MB Construction to allow crews to isolate lines during the project. Staff detailed immediate valve needs expensed in FY25 totaling $28,970 (including a 4-inch valve at 412 W. South Street and multiple 8-inch valves at specified intersections) and additional projected installations of $24,260 (two 6-inch valves on Crispin Street and two 4-inch valves on East North Main Street). The City Administrator was authorized to direct MB Construction to begin the required installations and to authorize future valves as needed; the motion passed 6-0.

Why it matters: the change order corrects an absent utility line shown on plans and extends the new main to improve flow; the valve work is intended to provide necessary isolation points so crews can complete work without extended service interruptions.

Council recorded no change to the project timeline in approving the change order.