Council awards $576,967 Safe Routes to School contract for Sunset neighborhood sidewalks

The West Linn City Council voted to award the 2026 Safe Routes to School construction contract to D & D Concrete and Utilities Inc. for $576,967 and authorized the city manager to sign and execute all related documents.

Council moved the item from the consent agenda for discussion before voting. Clark, the assistant city engineer, said the project will add two short sections of sidewalk on Bittner and Long streets and a connector between Exeter and Bittner to improve walking routes to Sunset Primary School. "It's a safe routes to school project that we have been in design with, since about 2022, 23," Clark said, explaining the team incorporated neighborhood feedback from an open house and a meeting with the school's PTSO.

Clark told the council the project attracted eight bids and the low bid came in roughly $145,000 under the engineer's estimate, a sign of current contractor interest. Councilors asked whether the city had worked with the low bidder before; Clark confirmed the city had previously used the same contractor on a Cedar Oak safe-routes project and described that work as well received.

Councilor Baumgartner moved to award the contract and the motion passed on roll call with all members voting yes. Councilors said staff will notify Sunset neighborhood residents before construction begins and that work will start after school is out to avoid conflicts with school activities.