Bangor approves $14.08 million contract for airport terminal connector bridge

Bangor City Council on March 24 approved a $14,082,504 contract with DeVoe Construction Inc. to build a connector bridge between the domestic and international terminals at Bangor International Airport.

The contract was authorized by council order 25-105, which the council approved by a 7-0 roll-call vote. The project is a rebid and is scheduled to begin mobilization and site preparation as early as April 2025, with construction continuing through the summer and expected completion in spring 2026.

The city presented a funding breakdown for the contract: $10,546,794 in federal funds, $337,000 from the Maine Department of Transportation and $3,258,163 in local share. Airport staff recommended awarding the contract to DeVoe Construction as the lowest qualified bidder.

During public comment on the item, a resident asked about the function of the connector. Airport staff explained the bridge "will link both of the buildings and be able to utilize the international space that is currently not being used because the airport does not have a daily schedule of international service." Staff clarified the airport serves international flights on occasion but does not have scheduled international airline routes at this time.

Councilors asked whether competing bids had any technical merits beyond price. Airport staff said two bids were received, both were found qualified, and the selected bid was roughly $1 million lower than the other qualified submission. The council then approved the order by phone roll-call vote.

The order notes the airport has worked with the Federal Aviation Administration to address previous compliance issues as part of moving the project forward. The contract award and funding allocations were discussed at the finance committee earlier the same evening.

Action details and timing in the council record indicate the city intends to move to construction promptly after contract execution.