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CITY OF SOUTH BEND REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING – January 22, 2026 <br /> <br />Page | 5 <br /> <br /> <br />The work is substantially complete, but a few remaining items will be <br />finished once materials arrive or when weather allows in the Spring. <br />The largest unforeseen cost came from removing old railroad ties left <br />from the former trolley. We knew the trolley had run through the <br />corridor and estimated removal needs, but once construction began, we <br />found the ties conflicted with nearly all work on the south side of the <br />road—and they were fully encased in concrete. Partial removal wasn’t <br />feasible and would have cost as much as full removal while also delaying <br />the project, so we removed the entire section. This item alone accounted <br />for about $380,000, roughly half of the total change orders. <br /> <br />The financial summary shown here reflects updated funding, including <br />preliminary engineering dollars from River East and transferred funds <br />from the Kelly’s Pub project, due to shared site work. We are requesting <br />an additional $200,000 to complete the project. <br /> <br />Vice President Relos asked, what is left to do in the Spring. Ms. Biek <br />stated trees will be planted in the Spring rather than the Fall. A small <br />amount of paver work is still underway. The main delay is the new signal <br />arm—right now the intersection is operating as a temporary four-way <br />stop with LED flashers. Once the signal arm arrives, we’ll be able to put <br />the traffic signal into full operation at Longfellow. <br /> <br />Permanent striping will also be completed in the Spring. As for <br />sidewalks, we installed new sidewalk on the west side of the tracks, and a <br />significant amount on the south side east of the tracks where it was <br />needed for utility work. We also added some on the North side based on <br />project needs. <br /> <br />Commissioner Shaw asked what we could learn from this mistake and <br />Ms. Biek explained that Engineering did take some pavement cores, but <br />they focused on areas where the new utilities were being installed, <br />which was mostly in the center of the roadway—not where the old <br />trolley tracks were located. We can definitely take additional cores, <br />especially near inlets and other locations where we may have conflicts <br />underground, to get a better understanding of what remains beneath the <br />surface. <br /> <br />Matt Barrett asked, it appears this work has already been completed, so <br />he’s wondering what the process is for handling change orders. <br />Additionally, if the Redevelopment Commission does not approve the <br />funding, where would the money come from? Ms. Biek responded, since <br />the work has already been completed and the City has directed its <br />removal, if the Commission does not approve this request, we will need