City engineering updates: Grant Street, Witt Road, Midland Trace planning; county-road drainage bids opened

Lebanon's engineering department gave updates on several construction and planning projects and publicly opened bids for a storm-drainage contract that will support a future state-led roundabout.

Why it matters: Projects discussed include corridor work, trail and park improvements, and right-of-way acquisitions that will affect traffic flow and development. The bid opening begins the procurement process for a drainage outlet tied to a larger roundabout project.

Kevin Kerlick, engineering department, reported progress across projects: survey work and wetland delineation on the Chadwick ditch mitigation; notice to proceed for Grant Street Phase 2 (NDOT issued a notice to Midwest Paving and utility relocations are mostly complete with a pre-construction meeting scheduled Oct. 2); final punch-list work on Fordyce Street; finalized street-tree ordering for corridor plantings; and right-of-way compensation statements nearing completion for Witt Road where additional property acquisitions will be required.

Kerlick also described coordination on the Midland Trace corridor planning with Zionsville and Whitestown and noted conversations with the Indiana Department of Health about potential planning grant opportunities. He said the LEAF District projects continue: 450 North CSX crossing arms and signals are complete, new s-curves and resurfacing on 200 West are nearly finished, and several 180 Makeover Program construction items are complete.

At the meeting the city opened sealed bids for the County Road 100 South and County Road 400 East drainage project, a local contract that will provide the storm-sewer outlet needed ahead of a larger, state-let roundabout. Seven bid packages were opened publicly; total bid amounts read into the record showed an apparent low bidder of SLB Pipe Solutions at $282,410.51. Kerlick said the city will review the bids for responsiveness and return to the board with a recommendation at its Oct. 13 meeting.

The board also approved change order number 2 for Oaks & Main, a negative credit of $2,000 to close the Dillon Group's HVAC contract scope. Kerlick said equipment had been provided but final labor installation depends on the owner completing electrical and plumbing connections; the change order reduces the city's contract obligations so the project can be closed from the city's standpoint.

Kerlick closed by noting upcoming bids and construction access: Witt Road north of County Road 300 will be closed for two months beginning Sept. 18 for roundabout construction, with emergency access maintained; Abner Longley Park perimeter path bids are published with openings scheduled for Oct. 13; and certain light-replacement parts are pending for Indianapolis Avenue work.

Kerlick said staff will return with bid tabulations and formal award recommendations after administrative review. No award was made during the Sept. 22 meeting.