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DPW: Bridge on Route 31 shifts to phase 2; Friendship Shop bids set for Oct. 2
Summary
Department of Public Works staff reported that the Route 31/Friendship bridge will move into phase 2 around Sept. 15 with substantial completion expected this calendar year, and that pre-bid interest for the Friendship Shop renovation was strong with bid opening set for Oct. 2 and construction expected to start in November pending financing.
Tom Windes, Department of Public Works staff, told the DPW committee that the bridge project at Route 31 and Friendship is expected to move into phase 2 around Sept. 15 and that crews will shift traffic onto the new bridge to begin work on the remaining half. “They are proposed or they should be moving into phase 2 by the end of next week beginning of the, around September 15,” Windes said.
Windes said the project was originally expected to be done in October but the contractor now projects more work into November; staff still expects "substantial completion" this calendar year. “They still feel like they'll get substantial completion done this calendar year,” Windes said, while adding that some final blacktop topping may remain and could be done next spring.
On the Friendship Shop renovation, Windes said the department held a pre-bid meeting with eight prime/general contractor attendees and that the bid opening is scheduled for Oct. 2. "We had 8 attendees for the prime contractor, the general contract, which was very good," Windes said. He said the department hopes to begin construction around November and will call a special committee meeting to consider recommendations after bids are reviewed.
Windes relayed a scheduling constraint from state permitting: "Dave from the state said that we have 2 years, to work under that building permit," meaning the state does not want to issue the permit too early because construction may span roughly two years. Windes said the DPW will meet with fiscal advisers this week to clarify financing timelines before awarding contracts for the Friendship Shop.
Discussion at the meeting included staff notes that towns' paving workloads have stretched highway crews thin and that town assistance (including work in Independence) has delayed some noncritical items. No formal vote or contract award for the bridge or Friendship Shop was taken at this meeting; staff requested authority to return with bid recommendations for committee action once bids are evaluated.
