Grand Street underpass project above budget

Last edited 2:48 p.m., March 15, 2022

The Grand Street underpass project at the south edge of Missouri State University's campus is rising above budget, school officials say.

The MSU Board of Governors' executive committee meeting agenda for March 16 indicates the project requires roughly $2.8 million more in funds to complete. The original project budget was $3.8 million, meaning the new cost is roughly 73% higher.

The board is slated to consider a host of factors for the price increase, including the replacement of an existing sewer line that feeds a portion of the historic buildings on campus; unsuitable soil issues; and a global supply chain that's impacting costs.

"This line is composed of pieces of piping dating back to the original construction of Hill Hall in the early 1900s and connects to piping installed when the original underpass was constructed 40 years ago," officials said in the board agenda. "Both sections of the sewer line are failing and need to be replaced."

Nabholz Construction Corp. is serving as construction manager at risk for the underpass project, which calls on the creation of an accessible pedestrian pathway connecting three parking lots to the main campus, according to past reporting.

The project now is slated for completion by the fall 2022 semester, pushed back from a previous estimate of May.

MSU staff are recommending approval by the board for the budget increase.