Redevelopment commission accepts low bid and awards Whiteland Road roundabout contract to Morphy Construction

Crossroad Engineers opened bids for the Bob Linton/Whiteland Road roundabout and recommended acceptance of the low bidder, Morphy Construction, at $1,494,000. Mark Beck, the engineer presenting the bid opening, said five firms submitted bids and that the low bid was within a reasonable spread compared with competing offers.

Commissioners asked about contractor experience, bid bonds and inspection. Beck said Morphy has worked on projects for the town in the past, that the bid documentation and bonds were provided, and that the engineer will provide full-time inspection and testing during construction. He described the project as a concrete roundabout designed for heavier truck movements and said utility relocations are mostly complete.

Before awarding the contract, a commissioner requested a formal record approving the plans and specifications because of financing and bond-structure requirements tied to the Redevelopment Authority. The commission voted to approve the plans and specifications as provided and then voted to award the contract to Morphy Construction; both roll-call votes were unanimous.

The engineer said the earliest survey and mobilization could begin April 1 and, weather permitting, the goal is to have the roundabout open by the July 4 weekend the following year. The low-bid amount, the bid spread to the next-lowest bidder, and the presence of performance and maintenance bonds were discussed as project protections.

Next steps: the town will finalize contract documents and notice to proceed once signatures and required bonding are in place. The commission also directed staff and the engineer to continue coordinating maintenance-of-traffic plans, utility relocations and public-safety notifications.

Sources: Mark Beck, Crossroad Engineers (bid opening and technical answers); commission roll-call votes approving plans/specifications and awarding the contract.