2025/26 ASPHALT STREET PAVEMENT IMPROVEMENTS (HILLCREST AVENUE, ELLIS STREET, KENTUCKY AVENUE, ILLINOIS AVENUE, INDIANA AVENUE, OKLAHOMA DRIVE, AND DELAWARE AVENUE)
This annual Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) program utilizes rehabilitation and reconstruction techniques to improve existing asphalt streets. These pavement improvements will restore structural integrity, serviceability, and rideability. Targeted streets are experiencing accelerated deterioration, and timely intervention will extend their service life. The 2025/26 program locations include Hillcrest Avenue, Ellis Street, Kentucky Avenue, Illinois Avenue, Indiana Avenue, Oklahoma Drive and Delaware Avenue.
This project was previously bid in June 2026. However, bids at that time exceeded the available funding and the City Council rejected all bids and did not award a contract. Staff then worked to revise the project scope to bring it back into alignment with project revenues before seeking bids again. City Council approved the revised preliminary plans at the July 28, 2026 meeting and directed staff to again seek bids for the project.
On August 19, 2026, one bid for the project was received as follows:
| Bidder | Bid Amount |
| Engineer's Estimate | $4,492,222.46 |
| Manatt's Inc | $4,513,414.65 |
Revenue and expenses associated with the project are estimated as follows:
| Description | Revenues | Expenses |
| 2025/26 GO Bonds | $4,000,000 | |
| Unallocated GO Bonds | 575,000 | |
| Water Systems Improvement Program | 230,000 | |
| Sanitary Sewer Systems Improvement Program | 150,000 | |
| Stormwater Improvement Program | 150,000 | |
| Construction (estimated) | $4,513,414.65 | |
| Engineering (HR Green) | 315,500.00 | |
| Administration | 200,000.00 | |
| TOTAL | $5,105,000 | $5,028,914.65 |
- Accept the report of bids, approve the final plans and specifications, and award a contract to Manatt's, Inc., of Ames, IA in the amount of $4,513,414.65.
- Direct staff to revise the project.
- Do not proceed with this project at this time.
This project will restore structural integrity, serviceability, and rideability on several streets in the community. The project scope was revised to align with project revenues. It is common to only have one bidder on projects that include asphalt pavement as the primary paving material because there is only one asphalt contractor that provides service in Ames. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as noted above.