Boulder puts South Boulder Creek flood project estimate at $76 million

Boulder estimates its South Boulder Creek flood-mitigation project will cost $76.36 million, with construction expected to begin the week of Oct. 5. The city says the project is designed to reduce flood risk for about 2,300 people and 260 structures and keep key roads accessible during major floods.

At a Sept. 21 Water Resources Advisory Board meeting, Utilities Director Joe Taddeucci said the project had commonly been presented as costing about $66 million. He attributed roughly $10 million of the increase to a schedule extension negotiated with the contractor because of litigation. The city says litigation has affected its ability to use planned bond financing, shifting the project to annual funding and extending expected construction from three years to as long as five.

The city’s current estimate includes about $69.5 million for construction, $2.8 million for engineering and $4.1 million for property acquisition. The city says it has received the final federal permit and completed the land transfer and closing with the University of Colorado. If litigation is resolved during construction, the city says it could issue bonds for remaining costs, potentially shortening the schedule and reducing costs.

The city’s project schedule estimates three to five years of construction. The University of Colorado Boulder South site is expected to be closed during the work.