Agenda Date: 11/17/2026
Subject:
Title
Resolution 79-2026: Approving the first amendment to the Construction Contract with Edge Contracting for the Shadycroft Acres Sanitary Sewer Extension Project
Body
From: James L. Becklenberg, City Manager Prepared by: Brent Soderlin, Director of Public Works & Utilities Sarah White, Water Resources Manager Presentations: N/A
PURPOSE:
Approving the first amendment to Construction Contract between City of Littleton and Edge Contracting for the Shadycroft Acres Sanitary Sewer Extension Project, City Project No. 25-51
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Sustainable Community with Natural Beauty; High-Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
Most properties within the City of Littleton are served by the City’s sanitary sewer system through a network of infrastructure which carries wastewater from homes and businesses to the South Platte Renew Wastewater Treatment Plant. Approximately 130 parcels within the city have private septic systems. To protect public health, the City is endeavoring to provide opportunities to eliminate as many of these septic systems as possible by providing access to public sanitary sewer. The City has identified the Shadycroft Acres neighborhood as a location to install an extension of the existing sanitary sewer collection system. A project has been designed to extend sanitary sewer infrastructure into this neighborhood.
On March 16, 2026, the City of Littleton advertised a Request for Proposals to procure contractor services for the Shadycroft Acres Sanitary Sewer Extension Project, City Project No. 25-51. Eleven (11) proposals were received by the April 15, 2026, deadline. Staff reviewed the proposals based on qualifications, experience, project approach, and pricing. Staff selected Edge Contracting’s proposal as reasonable and the most qualified to successfully complete the project.
The City entered into a contract with Edge Contracting May 26, 2026. Work began June 20, 2026.
As with any underground work, there is a degree of uncertainty as to what unknowns lie within the work area including soil material and unidentified infrastructure. During installation of the sanitary sewer, the project team discovered:
A 12” corrugated metal pipe (CMP) culvert near the intersection of Graham Ln and Rangeview Drive was located during construction. Pipe was not previously identified in design plans. Propose to replace 40 LF of pipe approximately 6 ft. Due to condition of CMP, full pipe was replaced. Cost of repairs is $4,297.00.
A 12” CMP outfall pipe was located from private pond to outfall to the north. As crews excavated they encountered a fully corroded pipe, unable to salvage any of the line, they had to replace 40 LF of CMP at 20 ft depth. Cost of repairs is $9,514.00.
The existing sanitary manhole at Rangeview Dr, had an existing lateral stub out constructed in 2001 with the new sanitary main install along Rangeview Dr. During construction, it was noticed the original lateral was constructed with a reverse flow, therefore we would be unable to utilize this existing connection. Rangeview Dr is a main collector road for Heritage High School, with Shadycroft Dr also under construction, we are unable to fully excavate across Graham Dr to make the sanitary connection without fully closing Graham Dr and requiring a 2.5-mile detour via Ridge Road. Alternative methods were analyzed, the cheapest and least impactful option is to bore a new sanitary line under Graham Dr. This will allow for the road to remain open and complete the new sanitary connection to the manhole north of Rangeview Dr. This technique is being handled both by Edge Contractors and subcontractor BT Construction. Cost to bore 110 LF of new sanitary sewer is $252,571.00.
Additional exploratory measures and reconstruction were required with the location and abandonment of the sanitary lateral at Grham and Rangeview. Cost of design change is $3,764.00.
A 12” private CMP storm culvert was removed to install the sanitary lateral along Graham Dr. Cost of repairs is $943.00.
The intersection of Graham Dr and Shadycroft Dr is the deepest section of the new sanitary installation, reaching over 20 feet in depth. At this depth, crews encountered bedrock that required additional large equipment to be brought in and additional unplanned manhours to excavate through the solid rock. Geotechnical exploratory holes were taken on either side of the intersection but did not show the amount of bedrock crews had to work through. Soil condition changes were not anticipated in original contract. Cost of excavation is $42,047.00.
BACKGROUND:
Most properties within the City of Littleton are served by the City’s sanitary sewer system through a network of infrastructure which carries wastewater from homes and businesses to the South Platte Renew Wastewater Treatment Plant. Approximately 130 parcels within the City have private septic systems. In order to protect public health, the City is endeavoring to provide opportunity to eliminate as many of these septic systems as possible by providing access to public sanitary sewer. Most properties currently on septic systems are within 400 feet of a sanitary sewer main, which is the distance identified within City Code for which a property is required to connect to the public sewer at the time their septic system fails. Some parcels are outside of the 400-foot distance, and the City desires to provide public sewer infrastructure to serve these properties. The City has identified the Shadycroft Acres neighborhood as a location to install an extension of the existing sanitary sewer collection system. A septic system has an average life span of 30-40 years, and many of the homes in the Shadycroft Acres neighborhood are reaching the end of life for their septic systems.
The Shadycroft Acres Sanitary Sewer Extension Project will install new sanitary sewer mains and manholes on Shadycroft Drive from the intersection of South Rangeview Drive to South Windermere Street. It will also include the length of Graham Lane from the intersection of South Rangeview Drive to Shadycroft Drive.
Through design of the project, the City surveyed the location of the existing private septic systems and collaborated with the property owners to identify the desired future route to connect each home to the new sewer mains. Twenty properties within the Shadycroft Acres neighborhood that currently operate with existing septic sanitary sewer systems will have the opportunity to connect to the new sanitary sewer main. As part of the project, sanitary sewer laterals will be extended from the new sewer mains to the property line. Property owners will be responsible for connections from this service stub to their home and for abandoning the septic systems in accordance with Arapahoe County Public Health requirements. Property owners can continue to operate and maintain their existing septic systems until such time as they fail. In accordance with City Code, at that time they will be required to connect to the public sanitary sewer system.
There is no direct cost to property owners for this project. The cost of the new sewer mains and roadway restoration is funded by the Sewer Utility Enterprise Fund. All underground utility work on private property from the sewer stub to their home, and abandoning the septic system, is the responsibility of the property owner. When a connection is made to the public sewer system, a City of Littleton sewer tap fee will be required, which is currently priced at $5,000 per residential unit.
This project also provides an opportunity for the City to replace aged pavement. Due to budget constraints, as part of this project the roadway will only be patched back over the new sewer main. In 2027, the City plans to rehabilitate the full extent of Shadycroft Drive and Graham Lane.
Prior Actions or Discussions
The original contract was awarded by Council on May 19, 2026. This request is the first amendment proposed.
FISCAL IMPACTS:
The proposed first amendment is for $308,839.00. The original budget for this project was $2,000,000.00. The construction contract awarded to Edge Contracting for the Shadycroft Acres Sanitary Sewer Extension Project was $1,643,680. The first amendment is within the proposed overall budget for this project. This project will be funded by the Sewer Utility Enterprise Fund.
Pursuant to the City’s Procurement Policy, all contracts exceeding $500,000 must be approved by City Council.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the construction contract.
ALTERNATIVES:
If the construction contract is not approved, the project will not be completed. Approximately 60% of the project is installed. Failure to approve the first amendment would not allow for full project completion. This will have an adverse impact on the property owners whose septic systems are at the end of their useful life and are planning to connect to the new sanitary sewer as soon as feasible.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 79-2026 approving the first amendment to the Construction Contract with Edge Contracting for the Shadycroft Acres Sanitary Sewer Extension Project.