Kent Council Awards Meeker Street Improvement Contract to Active Construction for $6.87M

The Kent City Council unanimously approved a contract award Tuesday for the Meeker Street frontage and trail connection project, authorizing the mayor to finalize documents with Active Construction Inc. for $6,874,975.

Public Works Director Chad Buren told council the Meeker Street project will complete frontage improvements tied to downtown redevelopment and extend Meeker frontage between the Interurban Trail and Washington Avenue. The work includes significant street rebuilds and will be partially disruptive to traffic, with multi-month detours eastbound under SR 167 anticipated during construction.

Buren said the city opened six bids on Jan. 13; Active Construction’s low bid of $6,874,975 compared with an engineer’s estimate of $8,615,000. He noted staff’s familiarity with Active Construction from recent local projects and recommended the award.

Councilmember Trautner moved to award the contract and authorize the mayor to sign the necessary documents subject to final terms acceptable to the city attorney and public works director; the motion was seconded and passed 7-0.

Buren and staff cautioned that construction will be impactful and will include substantial communication and advance warning to residents and businesses as work begins in late spring and continues into 2027.