Council Approves $142K Change Order for Alley Work
Casper's City Council approved added funding and a seven-day extension for downtown alley repairs after an underground coal chute was discovered.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Construction
The Casper City Council approved Change Order No. 2 with Falcon Construction for downtown alley work, adding $142,275 and a seven-calendar-day extension to the project. The council also approved a perpetual license agreement with Center Street Holdings allowing solar alley lighting on the Cadillac Cowgirl facade.
Why it matters
The contract adjustment was necessitated by the unexpected discovery of a substantial underground coal chute that encroached into the alley pathway and cannot support heavy traffic, including city sanitation vehicles. The reinforcement secures the adjacent building foundation and addresses public safety for downtown Casper.
The change order raises the total contract price from $281,400 to $423,675, adding $142,275 and a seven-calendar-day extension. The contract's completion deadline moves to Nov. 6, while the scope of the extended work remains defined by the discovered void.
The players
Casper City Council
The elected governing body of Casper, Wyoming, which holds authority over city contracts and public infrastructure approvals.
Falcon Construction
The contractor performing the downtown alley work under the city's construction contract.
Center Street Holdings
The entity that holds the perpetual license agreement allowing solar lighting on the Cadillac Cowgirl building facade.
The details
Falcon Construction will backfill and compact the void beneath the alley right of way from the basement of the Cadillac Cowgirl at 147 South Center St., construct a reinforced concrete structural wall with footers, and install lateral support deadman anchors. Separately, the city will place two 12-watt, 1,000-lumen solar lighting fixtures on the building facade and operate them as a downtown beautification measure.
Timeline
Tuesday (Nov. 4, 2026): Council approved the change order and lighting license agreement.
Nov. 6, 2026: Final project completion deadline.
Construction Pattern
Change orders triggered by unforeseen subsurface conditions are a routine feature of municipal excavation projects. The Casper alley adjustment follows that pattern, with a discovered coal chute driving added cost and time.
Downtown Casper residents and businesses near the alley can expect continued construction activity until the Nov. 6 completion deadline. The reinforced structure is intended to make the alley safe for heavy vehicles, including city sanitation trucks.
The takeaway
Unexpected underground conditions can add both cost and schedule time to public projects, which is why contingency planning matters. Casper's alley repair shows how a single discovery can reshape a downtown work plan.
Further reading
For more on local building projects, see Construction coverage in Casper.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Oil City News.
