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McKinney public works: El Dorado project overran budget, staff seek $1.2M contract increase to continue Virginia Parkway work
Summary
Public works staff told council that the El Dorado Parkway panel replacement ran well over estimates due to subgrade voids and root intrusion, spending about $6.0M against a $3.5M budget; staff asked council to increase the contractor Garrett Shields' contract by $1.2M tonight to extend work on Virginia Parkway, while acknowledging state law limits and potential additional funding needs.
Katie McKenzie, assistant director of public works, reported that the El Dorado Parkway panel replacement is essentially complete and broadly well received by residents, but required nearly twice the panel replacements originally estimated because of unexpected subgrade voids and root intrusion from trees.
"So between the additional panels and the root barrier, our budget was $3,500,000, and we're sitting at $6,000,000 at the end of El Dorado," McKenzie said. She told council the city installed a physical root barrier system (about $40,000) and described the subgrade problems that forced extra panel replacement.
McKenzie described contract and funding details: the original contract value was $8,300,000, council previously approved an NTE (not-to-exceed) amount of $9.2M, and state law caps increases at 25% of the original contract (to $10,400,000). Staff said they will ask council tonight to add $1,200,000 to Garrett Shields' contract so the current contractor can continue work and reach as far as phase 6 on Virginia Parkway. McKenzie cautioned that completing the remaining limits of Virginia could cost an additional $400,000 to $1,600,000 beyond that and that phases 7–9 would require public bidding.
Councilmembers asked detailed questions about tree roots, specific intersections and warranty terms; McKenzie confirmed the project will carry a 24-month warranty and staff will inspect and require repairs as needed. She also said phasing was chosen to limit traffic impacts and to allow monitoring of conditions before advancing to subsequent phases.
The presentation included estimated totals: completing both El Dorado and Virginia could require $10.8M to $12.0M in construction to reach the project limits, depending on what crews find when they remove panels on remaining segments. McKenzie said staff favors maximizing the work Garrett Shields can accomplish now because remobilizing or moving to a different contractor later is likely to be costlier.
