The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) made multiple decisions in May relating to roadwork that will take place in 2025.
During a regular meeting on May 6, the BoCC voted unanimously to approve its consent agenda, which included a contract with A-One chip seal and Rocky Mountain Pavement for the county’s 2025 chip seal road resurface projects.
According to the meeting’s agenda, the amount of this contract shall not exceed $1,356,533.63.
Public Works Director Mike Torres briefed the BoCC on the matter during a work session held earlier that day, joined by Road and Bridge manager Eric McRae.
McRae noted that a “large piece of it is for the Vista subdivision.”
According to Communications Specialist Ashely Springer, the roads included in the county’s 2025 chip seal project include 2.5 miles in the Vista subdivision, 1 mile of County Road 382 and County Road 200. There are 9 miles of roadways that will receive hot mill in place including part of Meadows Drive, Lake Forest Boulevard, North Pagosa Boulevard, Saturn Drive, Pinion Causeway, Carlee Place and Vista Boulevard.
During the work session, Torres explained the total for all of the projects the county has planned for this summer comes to $3,411,101.95, leaving public works with $308,898 left.
He noted that total cost includes the South Pagosa Boulevard project, the chip seal project and a contract with Dustrol.
“With that extra money, I would like to reinvest this into another project,” Torres said, adding, “As you know we’re still quite a bit behind on our roads and I think any little dent we can make in it would help us in years to come.”
Torres proposed a two-year plan to reconstruct Masters Circle and Pines Drive, starting with the Masters Circle project this year.
He noted that the county has been receiving complaints from residents “at least once a month,” in regard to those two roads.
Torres also mentioned that the roads were treated by Lithified Technologies in 2020 and “immediately that project started to fail.”
He then explained that with McRae’s and his discretion another “Band-Aid option is just not something we want to do out there, and we want to take care of the residents.”
Torres noted that because Pines Drive is longer, it would put the county over budget for the year if it were to complete both roads this year.
Later during its regular meeting, the BoCC unanimously approved a preliminary design and construction proposal and cost estimate from Davis Engineering Services indicating a total cost for reconstructing Masters Circle at $342,073.
The contract also indicates the total cost to reconstruct Pines Drive is $737,495.
According to the meeting’s agenda, “Pines Drive and Maters [sic] Circle have significant damage to the road surface creating unsafe conditions as drivers are veering into opposing traffic to avoid potholes.”
The agenda also states that the project will be funded through the county’s capital outlay, “which we anticipate savings after all budgeted projects are completed.”
Also during the meeting, the BoCC unanimously approved awarding Neil’s Excavation the contract for the 2025 Pagosa Trails gravel roads project.
According to documentation attached to the meeting’s agenda, the winning bid is listed at $518,005.
The agenda explains that bids were solicited for the project with a closing date of April 24. A total of five bids were received for the project, with the lowest bid coming in at $479,266.20 and the highest bid listed at $699,550.
According to Springer, the roads included in the Trails gravel road project are Travelers Circle, Landau Drive and Arroyo Court.
Commissioner Veronica Medina explained that she “did a little digging” and received positive feedback in regard to other work performed by Niel’s Excavation.
Commissioner Warren Brown also mentioned how the county just approved another change order for the new transit center prior to considering this matter, suggesting that the lowest bidder is not always the best option.
During its meeting on Tuesday, May 20, the BoCC unanimously approved a contract with Strohecker Asphalt for the South Pagosa Boulevard construction project.
According to the agenda, the amount for the project shall not exceed $1,283,793.30.
Medina explained the contract was sent back after initial review from the county attorney, with items addressed and corrected.
“So, we’re ready to move forward,” Medina said.
Torres indicated that work is likely to begin on June 9.
Transit center
During the May 6 meeting, the BoCC unanimously approved change order 11 for the county’s new transit center project.
According to the agenda, the change order is not to exceed the amount of $12,228.98.
The change order also notes the new contract sum, including this change order, is $5,175,041.03.
During the work session held earlier in the day, Torres explained the change order is for work that has already been completed.
Commissioner John Ranson expressed that it’s “not fair” to the taxpayers to pay for stuff that should’ve been included in the initial process.
“Unfortunate to say the least,” Torres commented.
The meeting’s agenda explains that the change order is for a wall footing and screen wall authorized at the time of construction.
The agenda also notes, “no further change orders are anticipated at this time.”
clayton@pagosasun.com
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