County updates bond transportation plan, schedules first CMAR guaranteed maximum price for Sand Ridge Road

County staff and design/construction partners updated the Board on progress in the transportation bond program and recommended proceeding with a CMAR (construction‑manager‑at‑risk) approach for initial projects.

Ed Dendoren (project update) explained the five‑project delivery was split into two CMAR groups. Project 4 — Sand Ridge Road from Henley to just west of County Road 209 — is farther along in design and will return to the board at a special Oct. 11 meeting with the first guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for approval. The Sand Ridge scope includes a 2.8‑mile, divided three‑lane roadway with grass medians, curb and gutter, multiple pond sites, bike lanes, and sidewalks.

Commissioners emphasized the need for detour and traffic‑management plans for each project, citing concern about commuter impacts and safety. Several board members asked whether funding shortfalls or inflation would force trade‑offs with work on County Road 209, a stretch repeatedly identified as having severe safety issues; staff said Project 4 is farther in design and that the team will continue to pursue FDOT and grant funding (staff noted FDOT assistance of about $1.7M toward 209/315 in a recent round).

Ed also summarized the value of the CMAR approach for accelerated delivery and cost certainty, and he said the owners’ estimate is within about 4% of the contractor’s estimate after iterative 30/60/90% design reviews.

The board did not award the GMP at the meeting but directed staff to return with the GMP for board consideration on Oct. 11 and requested clear detour plans be presented with future approvals.