Danbury City board rejects over-budget bids, moves to award Kennedy Avenue bridge work to Hemlock Construction

The Danbury City Board of Awards on April 1 rejected two over-budget rebids for the rehabilitation of Bridge 04176 on Kennedy Avenue and moved to award the bridge improvements to Hemlock Construction under a cooperative (Gordian) procurement, contingent on final contract execution.

Board purchasing agent Chip Volk opened the item by saying the rebid came in over budget and that staff had received two proposals. He recorded the low rebid from New England Infrastructure at $3,058,650 and said both bids exceeded the project budget, prompting staff to recommend rejection and re-evaluation of scope and pay items.

Tom Hughes, superintendent of construction services, told the board the bridge is the city's longest city-owned bridge, built in the 1960s with Army Corps-era design elements, and is "deteriorating, terribly." He warned that, without repairs, the bridge could face a reduction in capacity or eventual closure. "If not, the bridge is either gonna get, under, reduction in capacity or it's gonna end up having to be closed because it's deteriorating," Hughes said.

Hughes said staff ran a cooperative Gordian bid after rejecting the rebids and received a price several hundred thousand dollars lower than the low rebid. Antonio Inderola (city engineer/public works director) submitted a Hemlock Construction proposal dated March 30, 2026, with a total proposed amount of $2,816,835.09.

The board put the recommendation to award to Hemlock Construction to a vote with the condition that award is contingent on contract execution and any required exemptions; the motion carried. The board recorded that corporation counsel was present during the motion. The award is subject to standard contracting steps before work begins.

What happens next: staff will proceed with contract execution and any required legal or procurement exemptions; work will not proceed until those steps are complete.