Amherst finance committee forwards emergency request to hire engineers for Route 58 rebuild

The Amherst Finance Committee voted 6-0 on July 27, 2026 to send Ordinance 26-30 to the full council with a request for emergency treatment so the mayor can enter a contract with Brahm Hell Engineering and Surveying Company to perform preliminary and final engineering for the OPWC Round 40 North Lubbock rehabilitation project.

The presenter described the project as a full-depth rebuild of a section of Route 58, a $4,000,000 construction project with about $1,150,000 in state funding (a mix of grant and interest-free loan). The consulting proposal for engineering and surveying listed in the meeting transcript was approximately $335,443; the presenter said the consultant expects to finish engineering this year and that the city aims to bid the work in February.

Mayor (as identified at the meeting) summarized the scope: "Sidewalks, handicap ramps, all those improvements are gonna be part of this," and added, "This is big," noting prior repavings had not held up and the corridor needs a full rebuild. Committee members asked about limits; the presenter said the work would cover roughly Cleveland Street to the Route 2 overpass, just north of Spruce Tree Lane, and would include curbs and storm drains.

The committee motion to send the ordinance to the council with emergency passed 6 to 0. The mayor and administration will bring the contract language forward to the full council for final approval and, if approved, staff said survey work could begin immediately.