County approves $1.75 million bid for Highway 75 turn-lane project; inspection contract cleared

Coffey County commissioners on Dec. 23 approved a low bid of $1,749,574.49 from Kilo Construction for a multi-intersection turn-lane project along U.S. Highway 75 and authorized a construction inspection and engineering agreement with PG/BG Consultants not to exceed $116,500.

The Road and Bridge Superintendent told the board the county received three bids and that Kilo Construction’s proposal was “a couple hundred thousand below the engineer’s estimates,” easing cost concerns. The county’s required local match for the cost-share program was reported as $749,574.49, with the remainder covered by allocated state or federal program funds.

Commissioners discussed project scope and timing, including multiple turning-lane installations at intersections south of town, near Quail Meadows and the Dollar General stoplight, and sections north of the river bridge. The superintendent said the state allocated $1,000,000 for the project and that additional inspection costs would be paid from Special Highway funds.

The board then approved a consultant contract to provide construction inspection and engineering services, which the superintendent described as including senior inspection hours and contingency engineering time, and capped at $116,500. ‘‘They put in 400 hours of a senior inspector and then 400 hours of construction inspection,’’ the superintendent said during the meeting.

Both measures passed by voice vote. The county did not provide a firm start date in the meeting but discussed an early-spring schedule and preliminary design progress; commissioners were told plans are approximately 80% complete and the project will go to bid with an anticipated construction window next spring.

Next steps: the county will finalize contract paperwork, schedule inspection resources, and coordinate with state partners on phased implementation and traffic control plans.