A major portion of Salina’s Smoky Hill River Renewal effort is scheduled to move from design into construction bidding this fall, giving the city its first direct look at how current contractor prices compare with estimates developed during the project’s earlier planning.

The City of Salina currently lists the RAISE Grant Old Smoky Hill River Bridge Replacement Project at an estimated $33.79 million. The project includes seven bridges along the old river channel, trails, pedestrian improvements, a multimodal hub, a retaining wall near the water treatment plant, boat ramps and other infrastructure. 

Under an engineering agreement for the project, final plans were scheduled to be submitted by Sept. 7, with the project to be advertised for construction bids on or before Sept. 28. Construction bid letting is scheduled for on or before Oct. 22. 

The City’s current project page similarly says it anticipates awarding the construction project in fall 2026, with final completion scheduled by June 30, 2031. 

Published estimate traces back to earlier project costs

The City’s published cost table shows approximately $29.71 million in project costs, identified in the table as a “Project Subtotal (2022 Dollars).” Another approximately $4.07 million is listed for engineering, bringing the published total to $33,787,620. 

That does not mean the project will necessarily cost more than the published amount. It does mean the upcoming bidding process will provide a current comparison between the project’s estimates and prices submitted by contractors.

The City lists the funding for the $33.79 million project as:

$22,112,620 — federal RAISE grant

$11,675,000 — City of Salina

$33,787,620 — total estimated funding

That places approximately 65.5% of the currently published project cost with the federal grant and 34.5% with the City. 

The federal RAISE funding was awarded for the project in 2023, according to the City.

What is included

The seven bridge-related components currently listed by the City are Lakewood Park, Elm Street, Ash Street, Iron Avenue, The Midway, the YMCA area and a South Ohio Street pedestrian undercrossing and hydraulic culvert. 

The City's published estimates include approximately $14 million for those seven bridge and crossing components.

Other significant portions include approximately $6.01 million for multi-purpose bicycle and pedestrian trails, $2.96 million for complete streets and a boardwalk, $2.07 million for a river-channel maintenance facility and boat ramps, and $1.38 million for pedestrian and trail lighting. 

The project also includes pedestrian crossing improvements, a North Ohio Street pedestrian underpass, a multimodal hub, work near the water treatment plant and flood-mitigation improvements.

Separate from another river project

The $33.79 million RAISE project is related to the broader Smoky Hill River Renewal effort, but it should not be confused with a separate project involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The City separately lists an estimated $21.315 million aquatic ecosystem restoration project involving the river channel. That project includes reestablishing flow through the 6.8-mile river corridor, sediment removal, channel shaping and replacement of the Western Star Dam. 

The City currently lists that project's estimated funding as $13.705 million federal and $7.61 million non-federal.

The two projects are intended to work together but have separate scopes and funding structures.

Bids will establish the next set of numbers

The City’s engineering schedule calls for the RAISE construction project to be advertised by Sept. 28 and bids to be opened by Oct. 22. The agreement also requires a final construction cost estimate as part of the final-plan work. 

The City has not yet published an awarded construction price for the project.

Once contractor bids are received, they will provide a direct comparison between the City’s published project estimates and the cost of performing the work under current market conditions.

The City’s current schedule calls for a construction award this fall and completion no later than June 30, 2031.