Report on project and Change Orders 3, 4, 10 and 11 for Capital Improvement Project 10884; Kern Bridge.

No action, informational only.

In accordance with Section 2-8 of the Mankato City Code, the City Manager is to report as soon as practicable on change orders approved under $100,000 or up to 5% of construction cost for projects above $2,500,000. The following is a summary of change orders to date for 10884; Kern Bridge Project.
 
Project status was last shared with the City Council on February 9, 2026, at which time Change Orders 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 and 9 were presented. Construction is continuing and is currently anticipated for completion at the end of November. As of the time of this report, approximately 35% of the construction contract has been completed ($2,925,986 of $8,381,848).
 
The project has been the recipient of good spring construction conditions and the project is proceeding well. Since the last update, the contractor has placed the majority of the rip rap on both sides of the river and completed installation of all pile foundations for bridge piers and retaining walls. The stems and caps of the bridge piers numbered 4, 5, and 6 which make up the portion of the bridge crossing the Blue Earth River have been poured. All remaining bridge work is now above the river water level. The remaining piers 1–3 and the retaining wall on the Land of Memories Park side, which provides the connection between the on-grade portion of the trail and the actual bridge, have been started with piling, footing, and stem work completed. The retaining wall on the Sibley Park side has the footings poured.
Since the last update, four (4) additional change orders have been prepared. A summary of each is as follows:
 
Change Order 3 – Lighting Revisions ($8,615.10)
During construction, it was identified that lighting equipment changes were necessary to provide similar consistency, aesthetic with city standards and the Land of Memories Trail Project, and to move some equipment to a location less susceptible to flooding. 
 
Change Order 4 – Retaining Wall Revisions (deduction of $28,766.15)
The Engineer has determined that elimination of two retaining wall panels was possible to provide cost savings for the project overall.
  
Change Order 10 – Additional Ornamental Metal Railing ($126,400)
While shown in the plans, the original bid documents neglected to include adequate quantities of special ornamental metal railing for the historic bridge portion of the project which was required as part of the historic review of the project. Railing types for the project were reviewed and modified to provide special ornamental metal railing where appropriate to meet the original design intent of the project and satisfy State historical requirements. The final modifications resulted in significantly more special ornamental metal railing than originally bid. No additional professional services costs were incurred by the City for the required investigation, review and preparation of this change order.
 
Change Order 11—Truss Dimension Change (no change to contract amount)
During the rehabilitation of the historic bridge, discrepancies were discovered between the truss dimensions shown in the plans and the actual truss dimensions measured in the field. The contract documents were changed to show the correct dimensions. There is no cost associated with this change order.
 
The total of all change orders to date consisting of numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 is a contract reduction of $90,627.05. Two additional change orders are currently being considered that would reduce the contract reduction to approximately $70,000. All future change orders, including the two currently under consideration, will be brought before city council as soon as practicable in accordance with the City Code.