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The city of Hannibal’s next major street project is approaching another significant hurdle - bid opening. Mark Rees, city engineer, is upbeat ahead of next week’s scheduled review of contractor’s quotes.
“I’m looking forward to opening those bids,” he said. “If we can open that bid and it comes in right, I could be smiling ear to ear because that will give me the option to add another capital project and I’ve got a couple more in mind.”
The timing of Tuesday’s bid review is part of what has Rees optimistic.
“Finally we’ve got one that we’re opening at the right time of the year. Supposedly this is when contractors want to win bids and will give you the best prices that they can,” he said.
The city has budgeted $1.2 million for the project.
“My hope is that it will come in under a million. I don’t have anything to base that on, other than a gut feeling,” said Rees. “The distance of the road is less than a half mile and there isn’t anything in the way, other than a couple of BPW utilities which will be removed. Other than the Clover (Road) intersection, it’s just open field, which makes construction a lot easier, too, when you don’t have to worry about getting residents in and out.”
As of Friday morning, the city still needed a couple of temporary easements for the project. Rees does not foresee the same kind of easement issue arising as was encountered on Paris Gravel Road, where the lack of an easement delayed the project.
“These (easements) won’t hold us up,” he said.
Unlike Paris Gravel Road, which is being topped with an asphalt surface, the new section of Stardust will be concrete.
“We determined that at a council meeting a couple of meetings ago that we would advertise for a concrete only option,” said Rees.
Rees acknowledges that this winter’s dry and warm weather could allow the contractor to begin work sooner than normal.
“If we were to award the contract at the second (city council) meeting in February and get them under contract, they could start that box culvert right away if the ground isn’t frozen, or they could start some of the other storm sewer right away. If we’re getting this kind of weather and the contractor is anxious to work, he could mobilize immediately,” he said.
The city engineer admits he won’t fret over when construction begins.
“It doesn’t matter so much to me. Once I get this under contract I should be happy,” Rees said. “If I can’t get it under contract it means the bids came in too high and we might have to reassess, but once I get it under contract then as far as how fast it gets done is of a lot less concern to me than getting it done right.”
The city of Hannibal’s next major street project is approaching another significant hurdle - bid opening. Mark Rees, city engineer, is upbeat ahead of next week’s scheduled review of contractor’s quotes.
“I’m looking forward to opening those bids,” he said. “If we can open that bid and it comes in right, I could be smiling ear to ear because that will give me the option to add another capital project and I’ve got a couple more in mind.”
The timing of Tuesday’s bid review is part of what has Rees optimistic.
“Finally we’ve got one that we’re opening at the right time of the year. Supposedly this is when contractors want to win bids and will give you the best prices that they can,” he said.
The city has budgeted $1.2 million for the project.
“My hope is that it will come in under a million. I don’t have anything to base that on, other than a gut feeling,” said Rees. “The distance of the road is less than a half mile and there isn’t anything in the way, other than a couple of BPW utilities which will be removed. Other than the Clover (Road) intersection, it’s just open field, which makes construction a lot easier, too, when you don’t have to worry about getting residents in and out.”
As of Friday morning, the city still needed a couple of temporary easements for the project. Rees does not foresee the same kind of easement issue arising as was encountered on Paris Gravel Road, where the lack of an easement delayed the project.
“These (easements) won’t hold us up,” he said.
Unlike Paris Gravel Road, which is being topped with an asphalt surface, the new section of Stardust will be concrete.
“We determined that at a council meeting a couple of meetings ago that we would advertise for a concrete only option,” said Rees.
Rees acknowledges that this winter’s dry and warm weather could allow the contractor to begin work sooner than normal.
“If we were to award the contract at the second (city council) meeting in February and get them under contract, they could start that box culvert right away if the ground isn’t frozen, or they could start some of the other storm sewer right away. If we’re getting this kind of weather and the contractor is anxious to work, he could mobilize immediately,” he said.
The city engineer admits he won’t fret over when construction begins.
“It doesn’t matter so much to me. Once I get this under contract I should be happy,” Rees said. “If I can’t get it under contract it means the bids came in too high and we might have to reassess, but once I get it under contract then as far as how fast it gets done is of a lot less concern to me than getting it done right.”
