07-05-2025
City Council awards $2.5M bid for replacement of 3 pedestrian bridges in Jamestown
May 6—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown City Council unanimously approved on Monday, May 5, awarding a bid for more than $2.5 million to Industrial Builders Inc. to replace three pedestrian bridges in Jamestown.
The city of Jamestown's share is just over $490,000. Federal funds obligated for the project won't exceed about 81% of the total eligible project cost.
Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said there will be a citywide special assessment to pay for the local share.
The three pedestrian bridges that will be replaced are at Klaus, McElroy and Nickeus parks. Plans call for replacing the bridges with wider structures for easier maintenance and better access.
The bridges in Nickeus and Klaus parks were built in 1909 and 1908, respectively. The bridge at McElroy Park was built sometime after 1957.
"This is something that needs to be taken care of," said David Steele, city councilman.
The pedestrian bridge project is a collaboration between the city of Jamestown and the Jamestown Parks and Recreation District.
City Engineer Travis Dillman said the estimated cost for the project was about $3.75 million in 2023 with the local share being about $1.2 million. The local share has grown to about $1.5 million. He did not say what the total estimated cost has increased to.
Dillman said the project went through a North Dakota Department of Transportation process and included an archaeological study among others.
He said the Jamestown Parks and Recreation Commission will need to approve the bid from Industrial Builders as well at its next meeting on Monday, May 12.
The City Council unanimously approved awarding a bid for about $2.5 million to Scherbenske Inc. for a portion of the 2025 water main replacement project.
Dillman said this portion of the project includes replacing the water main at Business Loop West. He said the project needs to get completed before Business Loop West is reconstructed in 2027.
In related business, the City Council unanimously approved awarding a bid for about $1.2 million to Crow River Construction for a portion of the 2025 water main replacement project.
The awarding of the bids is contingent on approval from the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.
The entire project includes replacing deteriorated water mains and associated infrastructure in the following areas:
* between the 1100 and 1300 blocks of 4th Avenue Southwest
* between the 400 block Southwest and 200 block Southeast of 10th Street/U.S. Highway 52
* between the 800 and 1000 blocks of 1st Avenue South
* 400 block of 7th Street Southwest
* between the 1100 and 1600 blocks of 4th Avenue Northwest
Dillman said a Department of Water Resources Pre-Commission meeting is scheduled for May 22 when additional funds for the water main replacement project could be approved. He said the city will receive a $1.2 million forgivable loan through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the water main replacement project.
The City Council also unanimously approved a letter of intent to meet conditions set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a potential grant for a 96-inch storm water disaster project. In addition, the City Council approved a request for an obligation of funds from USDA Rural Development for the 96-inch storm water disaster project for up to $2.35 million in grant funds.
The water main replacement project began after stormwater runoff and flooding resulted in the failure of a 96-inch stormwater pipe located south of 25th Street Southwest and east of 8th Avenue Southwest.
The first phase included replacing the stormwater pipe near Applebee's. The second phase included replacing the water main from 25th Street Southwest to the parking lot where Perkins Restaurant & Bakery was formerly located. The final phase includes replacing the 96-inch storm sewer from U.S. Highway 281 to Interstate 94, Heinrich said.
Heinrich said the total cost of the water main replacement project is about $9 million.
"We really owe the people up at Interstate Engineering that were on top of some of these grants really a big thank you because they really zeroed in on a couple of things and had the relationship with some people and the knowledge of how to fill out these grant requests to be able to get this," he said. "This $9 million project is going to be completed without using any local money. ... It's going to be paid for with money from the State Water Commission, the USDA and the use of Prairie Dog funds."
