Authority approves $8.4M Shelby Avenue utilities project, awards contract to MTI

The East Bank Development Authority voted June 16 to approve staff’s recommendation to award a Shelby Avenue utilities contract to Middle Tennessee Infrastructure (MTI) and to budget $8.4 million for the project, officials said.

Miss Scopal, the authority’s project lead, told the board the work will install a duct bank and relocate some water lines from Interstate Drive down to South Second Street in two phases to provide permanent power for Elmington’s Parcel G development and future projects. She said the $8.4 million request is inclusive of a 20% owner’s contingency held outside the contractor’s contract.

“We had four competitive proposals and MTI was the lowest bidder, met the schedule and has prior success on Metro Water projects,” Miss Scopal said.

Board members asked for detail on the selection process and MTI’s track record. Scopal said the selection committee included representatives from NES and Metro Water and a technical advisory group that reviewed four proposals; the committee reached a unanimous recommendation to proceed with MTI. She said Metro Water had prior experience working with MTI and staff found no significant red flags.

Board member Mr. Tiff moved to approve the award; Reams seconded. The chair called the vote and the motion passed with no opposition.

Staff cautioned the work will be complex because workers must navigate existing underground utilities. Scopal said the project team will coordinate with other East Bank projects on timing and traffic control to avoid overlapping lane closures and to prioritize pedestrian and vehicular access.

The authority asked staff to provide continued updates on coordination across the East Bank corridors and to confirm MTI’s baseline schedule and mitigation plans for traffic and pedestrian access.

Next steps: staff will finalize the contract with MTI and issue a letter of intent so construction can begin under the approved budget and schedule.