Ames Drainage Project Lists Apparent Low Bidder After July Flooding
Ames lists JC Midwest Services as the apparent low bidder for drainage work at three low points, while Duff Avenue and Sixth Street remain deferred.
Ames has posted JC Midwest Services as the apparent low bidder for a stormwater project targeting three locations where drainage problems can develop during heavy rain. The city’s bid page lists July 28, 2026, as the scheduled award date, but the available listing does not by itself confirm that a final contract was executed.
The 2025/26 Low Point Drainage Improvements Program covers Northwestern Avenue and 20th Street, South Bell Avenue and Southeast 16th Street, and River Oak Drive and Grove Avenue. The city’s public works project page describes the program as an annual effort to improve drainage at low points throughout Ames.
What the project includes
Planned work includes removing and replacing stormwater intakes, installing storm-sewer pipe and regrading ditches. The work is intended to improve localized drainage capacity and move runoff into downstream systems.
This is a targeted drainage package, not a reconstruction of Ames’ entire storm-sewer network. The improvements also should not be described as a guarantee against future flooding or street closures.
Where the work is planned
The current construction package includes:
- Northwestern Avenue and 20th Street
- South Bell Avenue and Southeast 16th Street
- River Oak Drive and Grove Avenue
The City Council action materials identify separate future work at Duff Avenue and Sixth Street. That location is not part of the immediate three-location construction estimate and is being coordinated with a later Duff Avenue project identified for the 2027/28 construction year.
Estimated cost and funding
The council materials estimate construction at the three current locations at $192,485. The broader program includes $500,000 in stormwater utility funding, with $150,000 reserved for future Duff Avenue and Sixth Street work and $100,000 for engineering and administration.
The city’s bid-results page lists an engineer’s estimate of $192,379.50 and names JC Midwest Services as the apparent low bidder. The two figures are different estimates in different city documents and should not be treated as a confirmed contract amount.
Stormwater utility funds support the program
The funding described in the council materials comes through Ames’ stormwater utility rather than a newly identified one-time grant. The city says stormwater fees support drainage and stormwater infrastructure, including maintenance, localized flood-control work, water-quality projects and erosion control.
July flooding provided recent context
The project follows a July 3-4 storm that brought as much as six inches of overnight rain, according to the city’s river-level update. Ames reported that storm sewers were inundated and that several streets became impassable.
The flooding is relevant context, but the low-point drainage program is an annual city effort and should not be described as a project created solely by the July storm.
What residents should watch next
Residents near the three construction locations should watch Ames Public Works updates for confirmation of the contract, a construction start date, traffic notices and any temporary access changes. The city project page previously anticipated construction from June through December 2026, but the awarded-contract schedule and neighborhood impacts remain questions for subsequent official updates.
The practical distinction is important: JC Midwest Services is listed as the apparent low bidder, while the final contract status and construction timetable should be confirmed through the city’s meeting records, bid documents or project updates.
Sources
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