The City of Riverside has undergone a facelift with construction work done on Highway 22 over the last year. At a special session of the Riverside City Council on Wednesday, contractors and project managers met to discuss specifics and the delay in completion. All groups represented at the meeting expressed disappointment and fault over how certain aspects of the project were handled. The DOT has officially signed off on the project.

Initially the project was expected to be finished in July, but delays in the project included a late start date, weather, Trekfest, road preparation for changes from seal coat to asphalt, and 27 feet of sewer line in the right of way on private property that needed to be reconstructed.The substantial completion date was October 21st, meaning there’d be payment for 91 days. Substantial completion was defined as “when the project was able to be used as intended and open with no traffic controls.” With documented change orders for 17 days, time spent on other work totaling four days and work that was done on a sewer line on private property taking two days, which the city did not authorize, council settled on 68 days. After more discussion regarding unit prices on materials without change orders, weather, and lack of documentation for actual days worked, council and contractors agreed on a total of 60 work days for the project. Due to the delay, 60 days of liquidated damages will be paid to Riverside at the rate of $500 per day, or a total of $30,000. 

There are still small items remaining to be completed that are on a punch list. That list was distributed October 23rd. Council and contractors also agreed that in the spring between May 1st and June 1st there would be an evaluation of the sod placed in the project.