Item 5F. Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail Project in Hopkins Construction Budget Amendment

CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.

Superintendent's Recommendation:

MOTION TO INCREASE THE CONSTRUCTION BUDGET FOR THE NINE MILE CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL RECONSTRUCTION FROM MN RIVER BLUFFS REGIONAL TRAIL TO 7TH STREET SOUTH IN HOPKINS BY $81,205.53, WITH FINANCING FROM THE 2024 AND 2025 ASSET MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, INCLUDING FUNDING FROM A 2024 MET COUNCIL LEGACY GRANT (SG-24P5-09-8) AND FEDERAL STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (STIP) FUNDS.


Prepared By: Katie Warner, Project Manager


Background:

The Board awarded a construction contract and construction administration contract for the Nine Mile Creek Regional Trail Reconstruction project from MN River Bluffs Regional Trail to 7th Street South in Hopkins, MN at the July 17, 2025 meeting and set a construction budget of $1,020,767.62.

The project is actively under construction and has encountered several unanticipated field conditions requiring design and scope adjustments:

  • Original curb, gutter, trail, and grading designs conflicted with floodplain elevations per Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. Curb elevations exceeded existing grades, resulting in fill within the floodplain. Design was revised to lower curb elevations, requiring milling and overlay of the roadway. Earthwork was modified to provide compensatory floodplain storage.
  • During storm sewer installation, the existing watermain depth was found to be shallower than anticipated - roughly 5.5’-6.5’ deep (typically 7.5'-8'). The storm sewer was modified in two intersections to avoid the watermain conflict.
  • A property owner requested bituminous replacement for a driveway apron instead of concrete to allow uninterrupted delivery access. High early concrete and phased pours were declined. This change resulted in a cost savings.
  • Field measurements revealed the bid quantity for the retaining wall was insufficient. Additional materials were required to complete the wall as designed.


Administrative policy when a contract increases by more than 10 percent:

The current construction contract change order policy recommends Board approval when a construction contract increases beyond the 10 percent contingency allowance. The cost for the unanticipated conditions noted above is $116,767.51

To account for the fluctuations in potential cost for the unit price contract, an additional 5 percent contingency of the base bid amount has been included in the proposed budget increase in the amount of $35,561.98

Consequently, staff is seeking Board approval to increase the Construction budget by $81,205.53.

Existing project funds are available to cover the additional construction costs.

Relationship to the System Plan:

The Request for Action supports the following goal(s) of the System Plan:

Goal 1: You Belong Here

Goal 2: Parks Matter

Goal 3: Lead by Example

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