OWENSVILLE — City officials entered into an agreement Oct. 7 with KJ Unnerstall for building an 2.38-mile section of the Rock Island Trail within Owensville limits with unanimous approval of Ordinance No. 1457.

City officials signed off on nearly half-million dollar construction contract using grant money from the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP). The project received approval from the Missouri Department of Transportation which oversees the awards and provides partial funding.

The ordinance, brought forth under Bill 2024-21, authorized Mayor Kevin McFadden to formally enter into contract with KJ Unnerstall of Washington following the concurrence being approved by MoDOT.

KJ Unnerstall was selected after placing the low base bid of $485,960.70.

Dennis Reeler, senior project manager for the Washington-based KJ Unnerstall Construction, told city officials and their engineer his crew was ready to start the project in and effort to take advantage of the dry fall weather being experienced across the region.

The firm was waiting for “type 5” rock specified for the trail to be crushed locally at Capital Quarry. They plan to start dropping rock on the west end of town and work to the east toward the school campus.

He said they could begin as soon as later this month and — weather permitting — could be finished by the end of November.

Crews were expected to work between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The base bid covers 12,341 linear feet of linear grading of the existing railbed at $74,046; 227 linear feet of roll, pavement and base removals at eight-inch depth for $21,565; 227 linear feet of 12-foot wide and four-inch thick asphaltic pavement for $34,050; 12,568 linear feet nonwoven geotextile separation/drainage fabric at $31,420; 12,568 linear feet of 14-foot wide and four-inch thick type five granular base at $96,145.20; 12,341 linear feet of 12-foot wide, two-inch to four-inch to two inch crowned “Katy Blend” granular surface for $55,534.50; 50 two-and-a-half inch PSST post, anchor, and concrete footing for $37,000; 16 R1-1 signs for $3,360; 16 W2-1 signs at $3,840; 32 W11-15 signs at $7,680; 16 W16-7P signs at $2,720; 16 W11-15P signs at $2,880; 16 W16-9P signs at $2,720; eight mid-block white crosswalk striping for $18,800; construction staking at $5,000; erosion control for $35,600; traffic control at $10,000; site restoration at $10,000; and access control bollards/boulders at $33,600.

The motion to approve the ordinance was made by Ward 2 Alderman Matthew Kramme, seconded by Board President and Ward 1 Alderman Dr. Cathy Lahmeyer and passed unanimously.

(With additional reporting by Christine Yearwood of the Gasconade County Republican’s staff).