Moraga council approves phased storm-drain work on Maraga Way using in-town contractor

The Moraga Town Council unanimously approved consent-item 6.3 on April 22, authorizing phased work on a long-standing capital-improvement project on Maraga Way that includes near-term storm-drain connections.

Interim Public Works Director Nate Lavine told the council staff is advancing a near-term installation of storm-drain infrastructure now because a contractor already working in town (identified in staff remarks as A3 Pipeline) can perform the heavy civil work at a lower effective cost than rebidding the full project next year. Lavine said the approach separates the heavy civil storm-drain scope from later landscaping and finishing work—work that will be done by general landscapers at lower cost—so the town expects overall savings while mitigating flood risk in the corridor. He said there has been design and consulting spend to date but no construction expenditures to date.

Council members asked about contingency risk and whether the sooner change order would create exposure; Lavine said the team had considered contingency-proofing and expects an overall cost reduction, and council members complimented staff for a creative, efficient approach. The motion to approve item 6.3 passed unanimously.