MANSFIELD — The lowest of three construction bids for the Main Street Corridor Improvement Plan came in $2.1 million higher than estimated, driving the total cost of the project to around $19.3 million.
With the cost of the project rising, the Richland County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday agreed to assist with the project by waiving $450,000 in fees the City of Mansfield pays to the county as part of its jail services contract.
State law prohibits the county from providing funding directly to the city, according to county administrator Andrew Keller, who will work with Mansfield on the formal waiver deal.
All three commissioners expressed support for the waiver and the project, which has been in the works for the last several years.
“I’m for it. We have got to do this. You guys have put in a lot of effort. This will be great for our community,” Commissioner Tony Vero said.
Commissioner Cliff Mears said, “I am enthusiastically in favor of it. It’s the county seat. It’s got the potential of being a showplace. I wouldn’t change a thing from what I’ve seen.”
The three-member county board gave informal approval after a meeting with Mansfield Mayor Jodie Perry, Public Works Director Louis Andres and city engineer Bob Bianchi.
Kokosing Construction submitted the lowest of three construction bids for the sprawling project at $17,751,811, nearly 14 percent above the estimate of $15,560,000.
Other bids came from Shelly & Sands Inc. ($20,266,631) and Complete General Construction ($22,193,418), according to Bianchi.
Structurepoint, an engineering firm with offices in Columbus, will be paid around $1.6 million to provide inspection services during the work.
The project includes a complete upgrade of Main Street from First to Sixth streets and Park Avenue from Main to Diamond streets.
It involves replacing water mains, storm sewers, streetscape amenities, streetscape furnishings, decorative hardscape, sidewalks, curb ramps, signals, landscaping and lighting, Bianchi said.
The north and south plazas will be fully renovated, including fountain reconstruction.
The cost of the water and sewer lines is the biggest difference between the estimate and the bids submitted, Bianch said.
Perry said the entire water main, nearly a century old, beneath Main Street in the project area will be replaced as part of the project.
“The last thing that we want to do is put this beautiful new streetscape in and then have to keep digging it up for water main breaks,” the mayor said.
“While there is an increase, I want the public to understand what that money is being used for,” she said. “That replacement is a big part of the project.”
As part of the project, $3,092,907 in city water funds will now be used, up from $1.3 million when the project was estimated for bid.
City sewer funds for the effort jumped to $1,137,909, up from $687,000 when first estimated.
The largest single source of funds for the project comes from a $7.3 million federal grant obtained in 2022 through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity competitive grant program.
Perry said she will ask Mansfield City Council to approve $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project.
The city is also receiving $500,000 less than originally anticipated through the Richland County Regional Planning Commission. The commission will allot $1.9 million, instead of $2.4 million.
Bianchi has said new installations, such as mid-block pedestrian crossings, seating and decorative walls/fencing, brick crosswalks, brick hardscape, traffic control devices, irrigation, fiber, wayfinding signage and two decorative arches are included in the project.
Road resurfacing and pavement striping will be done as Main Street is converted to two-way traffic.
The work will be done in stages to lessen the impact along the entire corridor from First Street to Sixth Street, according to Bianchi.
Construction is expected to begin in February with an expected completion date of October 2026.
