The Pulaski Boulevard project continues to be on track for spring 2010 construction start.
Bids were opened by the Mass Department of Transportation Highway Division (formerly Mass Highway Department) in Boston on January 20th. Five prequalified bidders submitted bids.
The pre-bid engineer’s estimate was $11.0 Million. All bid results came in below that with a low bid of $8.48 Million. A total of $13.0 Million in funding was approved back in November, a figure that includes estimated bid costs plus percentage mark up to cover contingencies.
It is good news that the bids came in below the engineer’s estimates. If the bid prices came in above the estimate, the project could have been delayed while measures were taken to revise the project to meet the budget.
The bids were taken under advisement to be reviewed for accuracy and proper form. If the low bidder's bid is in order we can expect the project to be awarded on January 29th.
The Highway Division has appointed a project inspector (Webster Larkin Sr.) and a meeting has been set between the Town and utility companies for January 27th. There are nearly 100 utility poles that need to be relocated to make room for the road widening and sidewalk construction. The hope is that pole relocation, which is often a lengthy process, will move in step with the road work. We want to avoid the far too common site of an old utility pole in a new paved area, which occurs when pole relocation lags behind.
This is a summary of the bids that were read at the bid opening:
J. H. Lynch Corp $ 8,483,493.
Walsh Contracting $ 8,884,755
ETL Corp $ 9,754,539
Cardi Corp $10,293,043
P Gioioso & Sons $10,488,395
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