Christian County approves $225,803 design contract for Chadwick Bridge under federal grant

Christian County commissioners on May 14 approved a consultant contract to design the replacement of the Chadwick Bridal (Cedar Creek) bridge using Federal Lands Access Program funding.

Highway department staff said the project was eligible because it lies within the Mark Twain National Forest boundary and that the county received a federal grant to cover the work. Staff said five firms responded to the county’s RFQ and that a selection committee — which included county staff and emergency management representation — ranked Wilson & Company as the preferred firm. "We have a contract with them, which will basically take us from initial surveying all the way through awarding to a contractor, what we need for that design, for $225,803.60," the highway official said.

Staff described the grant as fully reimbursable: "So, again, that that grant is a, 100% reimbursable grant," the presenter said. Commissioners discussed the longer design review timelines now common for complex infrastructure projects and the potential that, without the grant, the county would have had to wait for local funding or find alternative state programs.

The board approved the contract by voice vote. Staff said MoDOT reviewed the scope and fee and the contract fits within their overhead and profit caps; the design schedule was described as longer than older projects, with permitting and multi‑agency review built into the timeline.

Next steps are executing the contract with Wilson & Company, starting surveying and design work, and advancing to contractor procurement once design and permitting are complete.