Committee approves more funds for Nicollet Mall project

The Nicollet Mall reconstruction project has taken two years and about $4.7 million to complete. Now, in a Minneapolis City Council Transportation and Public Works Committee Tuesday morning, it was revealed that some costs surpassed expectations.

The project is still, however, below the $50 million budget.

In the meeting, the committee authorized an amendment that increased the contract with Meyer Contracting, Inc. by $1,800,000 for change orders "related to anticipated and unanticipated design modifications and scope changes," according to the meeting agenda.

The committee also increased a contract by $250,000 for "extra costs associated with unanticipated additional work including the winter of 2016-2017."

Additionally, an authorized $50,000 increase to the contract with Conurbation will be used for "extra costs associated with unanticipated additional work including the winter of 2016-2017."

Finally, the committee authorized an increase of $10,000 with Wetland Habitat Restorations for extra costs associated with planting material.

The downtown project is expected to be complete by November.