City Beat: Jordan Creek project to start

At its Dec. 3 meeting, Springfield City Council awarded a contract to Branco Enterprises Inc. as construction manager at risk for the first phase of the Renew Jordan Creek project, which will bring the buried Jordan Creek back to the surface and create parklike settings along its banks through downtown.

The first phase of the project includes two large blocks in the center of Jordan Valley Park, bordered by Boonville Avenue to the east, Water Street to the south, Main Avenue to the west and Mill Street to the north.

Branco’s contract was set at a maximum amount of $22.4 million, with an additional Jordan Creek box culvert at Phelps Street and Boonville Avenue for $4.4 million and archeological construction monitoring by Missouri State University for $273,000.

To fund the project, council also approved the issuance of up to $6.5 million in special obligation bonds to use state and federal funding, including a $3.5 million federal Affordability and Water Quality Incentive Grant in conjunction with state revolving loan funds.

Local funding sources for the first phase of the project are the city’s level property tax, quarter-cent capital improvement sales tax and the Environmental Services Department’s green infrastructure and clean water funds.

The project also will use local and state American Rescue Plan Act funds and grants from the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Natural Resources, and funds from the clean water state revolving fund.

The project is intended to reduce flooding and enhance water quality while also improving connectivity and integrating green spaces.

Future phases in the Jordan Creek master plan call for improvements to Founders Park and to city-owned property at 404 N. Jefferson Ave., according to a news release from the city.

“Awarding the contract to Branco and securing our financing will now allow us to proceed to construction after many years of community-directed design and funding development,” said Kirkland Preston, Public Works Department project manager, in the release.

He added that work could commence as early as mid-December after contract paperwork is completed.

Construction is anticipated to last two years with completion forecast for late 2026. Information on construction plans and traffic impacts can be found at the project website, RenewJordanCreek.com/construction.