The Festus City Council recently approved a $454,827 change order to have more water main pipe replacement work completed as part of the street improvement project already underway along West Main Street from Park Avenue to North Mill Street.
Late last year the council agreed to spend $1,233,710 on the West Main Street project, which not only includes water main replacement, but also street, sidewalk and lighting upgrades.
With the change order, the project will cost $1,688,537.
Kimes Contracting in Hillsboro was hired for the project.
The city received a federal Surface Transportation Program grant that will cover 80 percent of the street improvement costs. The city will pay the other 20 percent. That means the grant will cover $866,968 for the street upgrades and the city will pay the remaining $216,742 toward the street upgrades.
In addition, the city will pay for all the water main replacement work, which will cost another $604,827, including the additional $454,827 to replace water main from the 600 block of West Main Street east to North Mill Street.
“The water main costs are 100 percent on the city,” City Administrator Greg Camp said.
Camp said the additional water main replacement work would add “45 to 60 days” to the project. When the project began in December, it was expected to last approximately five months.
The Festus council voted unanimously Jan. 22 to approve the $454,827 change order.