TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Bob Moehling, Public Works Director
PREPARED BY: James Ozouf, Senior Civil Engineer, CIP
SUBJECT:
title
Construction Contract for the Murrieta Hot Springs Road Widening Project, CIP No. 8079
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RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Amend the CIP Budget for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25 and appropriate $3,500,000, from the Measure A Fund Unassigned Fund Balance to CIP No. 8079;
Amend the CIP Budget for FY2024/25 and appropriate $700,000, from the Street Development Impact Fee Fund to CIP No. 8079;
Amend the CIP Budget for FY2024/25 and appropriate $600,000, from Highway and Street Development Impact Fee Fund to CIP No. 8079.;
Award the construction Contract for the Murrieta Hot Springs Road Widening Project, CIP No. 8079, to Rove Engineering, Inc. in the amount of $15,009,456.55;
Authorize a fifteen (15%) percent construction contingency of $2,251,418.48; and
Authorize the City Engineer to approve contract change orders not to exceed fifteen (15%) percent of the contract amount.
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PRIOR ACTION/VOTE
On November 17, 2009, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 09-2402, awarding an agreement to SB&O, Inc., in the amount of $438,183, for environmental and engineering design services for Date Street, CIP No. 8040, and Murrieta Hot Springs Road, CIP No. 8079 (Vote 5-0).
On June 4, 2024, the City Council approved Resolution No. 24-4745, approving the Capital Improvement Plan Budget for FY2024/25, and the FY2024/25 to 2028/29 Capital Improvement Plan, which included the Murrieta Hot Springs Road Widening Project, CIP No. 8079 (Vote 5-0).
CITY COUNCIL GOAL
Plan, program and create infrastructure development.
BACKGROUND
The Street Improvement Plans for the Murrieta Hot Springs Road Widening Project, CIP No. 8079, include numerous improvements to Murrieta Hot Springs Road between Margarita Road and Winchester Road. The purpose of this project is to widen Murrieta Hot Springs Road to its ultimate six-lane configuration and increase traffic flow and pedestrian and bicyclist safety along this corridor. The roadway will be widened from a four-lane roadway to a six-lane roadway between Via Princesa (East) and Del Haven Street, while the overall improvements occur between Margarita Road and Winchester Road. Improvements include the installation of asphalt concrete pavement, concrete curb and gutter, concrete sidewalk, landscaped medians, street lighting, signing and striping, bike lanes, retaining walls, and a traffic signal at the intersection of Murrieta Hot Springs Road and Calle Del Lago. The widening will also require the realignment of Via Frontera Road within the Ridgegate Community as well as the relocation of various existing utilities including electric, gas, water, sewer, and communications.
Project Bidding and Determination
The City of Murrieta (City) advertised the project on December 30, 2024, and received a total of seven construction bids on April 17, 2025. The basis of the bid for determining low bidder was defined in the specifications as the sum of the total base bid items and the additive bid items. The bid results are as follows:
|
|
Bidder |
Base Bid + Additive Bid Items |
|
1. |
Rove Engineering, Inc. |
$15,236,000.00 |
|
2. |
Mamco, Inc. |
$16,222,222.00 |
|
3. |
Hazard Construction Engineering |
$17,335,918.00 |
|
4. |
Beador Construction Company |
$17,750,700.00 |
|
5. |
Empire Equipment Service |
$17,960,433.38 |
|
6. |
Riverside Construction Company |
$18,755,118.40 |
|
7. |
Griffith Company |
$21,666,666.12 |
As part of a reimbursement agreement with Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD), Bid Items 143 through 149 were advertised as additive bid items in order to give EMWD the opportunity to self-perform their own adjustments and relocations. EMWD has elected to have the low bidder perform the adjustments and relocations of its facilities and will reimburse the City the full amount for Additive Bid Items 143 and 144 in the amount of $95,500, plus an additional 10% in contingency costs, if needed, for a grand total not to exceed $105,050. EMWD has elected to self-perform Additive Bid Items 145 through 149, effectively reducing Rove Engineering, Inc.’s contract amount to $15,009,456.55.
The Public Works Engineering Department has reviewed the bids and determined that the item prices are consistent with today’s construction market and recommends that the contract be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, Rove Engineering, Inc., in the amount of $15,009,456.55, for the Total Base Bid and Additive Bid Items 143 and 144, plus a fifteen (15%) percent contingency of $2,251,418.48, for a total of not to exceed $17,260,875.03. No bid protests have been received.
Construction Schedule
Construction for this project is anticipated to begin at the end of July 2025 and to be completed in May 2026. In order to keep traffic impacts to a minimum, some phases of work will occur at night between the hours of 9:00 pm and 5:00 am, while daytime work will occur between the hours of 7:00 am and 3:30 pm. During night-time operations, when traffic is minimal, the contractor may reduce the lanes of travel on Murrieta Hot Springs Road from four lanes to two lanes (one lane in each direction). During daytime operations, the contractor may reduce the lanes of travel to three lanes (one eastbound and two westbound lanes) in the early stages of construction. When work is not occurring, Murrieta Hot Springs Road will have a minimum of three lanes open (one eastbound and two westbound lanes). As construction progresses and after the south side of Murrieta Hot Springs Road is widened, staff expects that four lanes of travel will be achievable after each work shift.
Community Outreach
Considering Murrieta Hot Springs Road is one of the City’s busiest arterial roadways, construction for this project is expected to have a significant impact to the local community. In order to help raise public awareness about the construction schedule and potential impacts, staff is planning a robust public outreach effort about this project. Mailers will be sent to individual residences and businesses in the surrounding area notifying them of the impending construction and how to subscribe for regular project updates via email. Businesses in the vicinity along Murrieta Hot Springs Road will also receive hand-delivered communication from City staff. Once construction begins, and as the work progresses, staff will keep the public informed through the use of the City website and various social media outlets, sharing critical information such as, but not limited to: the two-week outlook of construction activities, the upcoming work schedule (night work vs day work), planned lane closures, potential detour routes, progress photos and more. Those who are interested in the project or who may be impacted by the construction activities are encouraged to subscribe for email and text updates through the “Notify Me” feature of the City’s website, which will be used to regularly send notifications on this project, potential lane closures, etc.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed contract amount to be awarded is $15,009,456.55, plus an additional fifteen (15%) percent contingency amount of $2,251,418.48, for a total not to exceed $17,260,875.03.
An additional appropriation of $4,800,000, is needed to cover the construction phase and contingency for the Project. Staff proposes that $3,500,000, be allocated from the Measure A Fund (302) Unassigned Fund balance, and that $700,000, and $600,000, be allocated from the Street Development Impact Fee Fund (135) and the Highway and Street Development Impact Fee Fund (138) Unassigned Fund balance, respectively.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Contract between the City of Murrieta and Rove Engineering, Inc.
2. Proposal from Rove Engineering, Inc.
3. Bid Summary
4. Vicinity Map