Watertown City Council to Consider $78,848 Increase for 2026 Asphalt Mill and Overlay Project
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council will consider approving Change Order No. 1-Final with Duininck Inc. for the 2026 PMP A - Asphalt Mill and Overlay Project during its meeting on Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.
According to an agenda memo from City Manager Alan Stager, the final change order for Project No. 2602 reconciles final project quantities, increasing the contract price by $78,848.20 from the original $517,270.80 contract to a new total of $596,119.00.
The project included street segments on 18th Avenue NE, 16th Avenue NE, and 16th Avenue Circle NE, plus 165 feet of Type B curb and gutter and one driveway approach. A project vicinity map shows the work areas located between Fourth Street NE/South Dakota Highway 81 and 11th Street NE.
Unforeseen Field Conditions on 18th Avenue NE
The change order reflects construction adjustments made due to unforeseen field conditions encountered on 18th Avenue NE between Highway 81 and Seventh Street NE.
During milling operations, crews discovered that approximately 820 feet of the roadway contained between 14 and 16 inches of asphalt pavement resulting from previous utility-related repairs beneath the street. After the discovery, city staff directed Duininck Inc. to limit milling to 10 inches rather than the originally anticipated depth.
According to the memo, restoring the roadway surface to the proper grade required a substantial quantity of base course.
Summary of Quantity Adjustments
City Engineer Justin Petersen and Project Manager Caitlyn German oversaw the project. The change order, issued Oct. 8, 2026, and signed by Duininck Inc. Project Manager Christian G. Duininck on Oct. 14, 2026, outlines the following quantity increases and decreases:
Additions:
· Aggregate Base Course (Unit Price Adjustment): Added 2,532.00 units at $43.00 per unit for an increase of $108,876.00.
· Adjust Manhole: Added six units at $1,220.00 each for an increase of $7,320.00, bringing the project total to 13 adjusted manholes ($15,860.00 total).
· Full Depth Milling: Added 705.00 square yards at $5.40 per square yard for an increase of $3,807.00, bringing the project total to 16,638.00 square yards ($89,845.20 total).
Reductions:
· 4-Inch Asphalt Concrete Composite: Reduced by 1,463.00 square yards at $21.85 per square yard for a decrease of $31,966.55, bringing the completed quantity to 14,470.00 square yards ($316,169.50 total).
· Valve Box Adjustment: Reduced by five units at $475.00 each for a decrease of $2,375.00, bringing the completed quantity to 17 units ($8,075.00 total).
· Aggregate Base Course: Reduced the original bid item of 40.00 tons at $55.50 per ton to zero for a decrease of $2,220.00.
· Remove and Reset Mailbox and Post: Reduced the original bid item of three units at $640.00 each to zero for a decrease of $1,920.00.
· Install B66/P6 Concrete Curb and Gutter: Reduced by 45.00 linear feet at $35.85 per linear foot for a decrease of $1,613.25, bringing the completed quantity to 165.00 linear feet ($5,915.25 total).
· Type 3 Barricade, 6-Foot Double Sided: Reduced by five units at $131.00 each for a decrease of $655.00, bringing the completed quantity to seven units ($917.00 total).
· Remove Concrete Curb and Gutter: Reduced by 45.00 linear feet at $9.00 per linear foot for a decrease of $405.00, bringing the completed quantity to 165.00 linear feet ($1,485.00 total).
Other completed original contract items that remained unchanged include mobilization ($40,000.00), miscellaneous traffic control ($1,500.00), removing 28.00 square yards of concrete approach pavement ($700.00), installing 28.00 square yards of 6-inch approach pavement ($2,067.80), 15.00 cubic yards of unclassified excavation digouts ($375.00), hauling and placing 45.00 square yards of salvaged asphalt mix ($900.00), 45.00 square yards of woven geotextile fabric ($308.25), and landscaping ($3,125.00).
Financial Considerations and Timeline
The Capital Improvement Fund, Account 212-43180-43700, approved funding for the street improvement project. With the approval of Change Order No. 1-Final, the total amount paid from the account will be $596,119.00, remaining under the 2026 budgeted expenditure of $600,000.
According to the change order documents, the substantial completion and final payment readiness date remained Aug. 21, 2026, with all 24 allotted working days used and zero rain days recorded.
City staff recommends council approval of the final change order.
