A pair of major state-managed construction projects are either under way or about to move forward for 2018.
Years in the making, after wrapping up some outstanding right-of-way issues this winter, the rehabilitation of Wrangell’s Evergreen Avenue finally began last Thursday. The Department of Transportation and contractor SECON got to work, starting on the airport side of the 0.91 mile long project and working their way westward. Crews will begin with drainage work on both sides of the road, especially at driveway crossings along the route.
By the time the full project is brought to a conclusion, Evergreen will be fully resurfaced and will include a sidewalk connecting pedestrians from the ferry terminal to Petroglyph Beach, a popular spot for tourists. The new amenity should improve safety for walkers, while a combination of drainage and embankment improvements should likewise make the road more safe for drivers.
Users of the road should expect some delays through the summer as work continues. Drivers are asked to pay attention and adhere to traffic signs and traffic flaggers. Proceed with caution through the work zone for the safety of workers and pedestrians alike. If it goes as intended, the project should be finished by the end of October.
“I’m excited to see the improvements in that area. Not only for the residents that have to drive that road every day, but also for the visitors,” said Lisa Von Bargen, Wrangell’s borough manager.
Alaska DOT is covering the larger portion of the multimillion-dollar project’s cost. The borough is contributing a nine-percent match.
Meanwhile, the reconstruction of a new float network at Shoemaker Bay Harbor has hit a slight roadblock in the bidding process. After bids for the estimated $9.1 million project were opened last week, a protest was lodged by the second-lowest bidder before a contract was approved.
Western Dock & Bridge of Ketchikan contended that the low bidder, a joint venture between Tamico Inc. and Rock-n-Road, both of Petersburg, had not met certain preconditions before submitting their bid. The company’s objections were that the partnership lacked a business license of its own, and that the firms lacked comparable project experience within a 10-year time frame.
A decision to award a bid was postponed while city staff investigated the objections. Based on their assessment, Von Bargen issued a letter to the Ketchikan firm last week, concluding the borough has sufficient grounds for awarding Tamico-RNR JV the bid.
The objections were dismissed as immaterial deviations from the bid specifications, as both firms in the joint venture possess licenses of their own, and the examples of their workmanship demonstrate the joint venture has the required experience necessary to the project.
“It was found that their examples of similar work was sufficient to meet the needs of the project,” Von Bargen commented. Neither deviation materially factored in to an unfair advantage over the other six contractors, she decided.
Von Bargen explained that Western Dock & Bridge has 10 days following receipt of her letter to contest her rejection. Until that window closes later this week, the city will not issue notice to proceed or sign any contracts with the bid winner.
The difference between the two firms’ bids was $381,000, though both were substantially lower than the initially estimated cost. If awarded the contract, Tamico-RNR JV would undertake the project for $8,355,240. That would allow the city to forgo having to bond for part of the project, $5 million of which is coming from state DOT funds. The remainder could come from a combination of city reserve funds.
Once awarded, by September 10 the contractor could take possession in the field. Current stallholders will have to be accommodated elsewhere by the Harbor Department during the project.
“We will have to start working on a work schedule with the contractor,” said Amber Al-Haddad, director of Public Works.
Fabrication of the float sections themselves will take up most of the time, she said, with completion coming in two waves. Floats C and D would be completed first, by around mid-May 2019. The main section and floats A and B would presumably be finished and in place by mid-June.
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