Council approves $6.92 million water-main replacement on Broadway after discussion of cost, schedule and lead-service work

The Quincy City Council voted to accept a $6,917,962.30 bid from Reece Construction Company to replace water mains on Broadway from 12th Street to 204th Street, a project staff said is necessary to avoid tearing up a newly repaved roadway.

Public Works staff told the council the existing main in part of the project dates to 1882 and that the city discovered additional local main work required on North 202nd Street during design. Staff said the engineering estimate was about $5.9 million, making the lone bid roughly 19% higher than the estimate.

The director said the higher price reflected restrictive work conditions — performing almost $7 million of work in about 4½ months — and the need to contract additional crews. Staff also said the work includes replacement of nearly 100 lead service lines in the project area and that some new water main must be added where no local main exists.

Council members asked about coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation, which staff said plans to mobilize resurfacing around late August. Staff said they expect to begin the city’s underground work in early April and to return the roadway with temporary pavement ahead of the state’s resurfacing; the state would do final milling and paving later.

Council members questioned bid competitiveness and program impacts. The director said Reece will dedicate crews and that underground work on other planned projects may be slowed; some above-ground concrete work will continue. Staff said they spoke with the contractor and reviewed the bid tab and considered the price reasonable given manpower and time constraints.

Because only one bidder responded, aldermen asked whether the bid would affect other capital schedules; staff said underground contracts could be delayed but the city plans to sequence projects as resources allow.

The council approved the bid by roll call (12 ayes, 2 absent).