Engineers say scope unchanged; overlay expected to extend Blackport Drive by about 15 years

Engineering staff told the Goshen City Redevelopment Commission the project scope approved in March remains the same and that recent cost increases reflect a greater-than-expected need for deeper patching identified during design.

"No. And I apologize if that was a miscommunication from us till now but it is not," Andrew, engineering staff, said when asked whether the scope had expanded. He described the planned work as a "minor structural overlay" with targeted deep patches, culvert replacement and limited sidewalk work.

Engineers estimated the selected treatment should provide roughly 15 years of service life before another major treatment is needed, but they cautioned that the full extent of deeper repairs will not be known until crews remove pavement and expose subsurface materials. "You don't really know until you start taking that off," a commissioner said; engineering agreed that excavation can reveal additional issues and that contingency allowances are needed.

The engineering explanation shaped commissioners' questions about setting a cap on redevelopment contributions and the risk of escalating change orders during construction. Staff said the intent is to balance fiscal prudence and the community need to preserve a vital corridor.