Commission authorizes asphalt addendum for Wimbledon Drive; city covers up to $37,500

The Birmingham City Commission voted to authorize the city manager to execute an addendum to the Wimbledon Drive paving contract to reconstruct the roadway using hot-mix asphalt rather than the originally planned cape seal. The motion specifies the city and the contractor will equally share the incremental cost, not to exceed $37,500, and that there will be no additional assessment charged to the special assessment district or affected property owners, subject to review by the city attorney and city manager.

The motion was introduced by a commissioner and seconded; the chair called the roll and the commission approved the item. City staff later told residents the decision followed discussions with the contractor and an acknowledgment that the initial work “was not well done” and that the work “is gonna be redone” in asphalt at the city’s expense.

During public comment, Wimbledon resident Tim Bradley said the neighborhood was grateful for the commission’s response: “We really, really appreciate what you did for us and it means a lot,” he told the panel. City staff said the timing will be coordinated to avoid added disruption during the Woodward Dream Cruise and that the city will work to splice the reconstruction into the existing schedule.

The commission also said the change in Phase 1 will prompt reconsideration of Phase 2’s approach because the same subcontractor that performed the Phase 1 cape seal work is involved in later work; staff said future addenda for Phase 2 will be brought back before the commission.

The commission’s vote formalized the cost-sharing arrangement and set city staff to complete final form and substance reviews before executing the addendum.