Selectboard awards $277,221 paving package to Pike Industries, cites bridge urgency

The Royalton Selectboard voted to award a $277,221.18 contract to Pike Industries for three paving projects after staff recommended accepting the low bid to capture season-end savings and ensure work finishes before school traffic resumes. Road foreman and staff described the package as including a mill-and-fill of Pleasant Street, reclamation of Oxbow, and a mill-and-fill for the Chelsea Street Bridge, with an urgent patch recommended for a damaged membrane at the bridge to avoid winter deterioration.

S8, who presented the bids, said the low Pike Industries proposal represented “a really good good figure here” and recommended completing all three projects together to save on mobilization and traffic-control costs. Board members noted the town has approximately $383,000 in its highway improvement reserve and that voter-approved funds (an additional $180,000) will help cover the project, though some reserve dollars are already earmarked for future work. The board approved the motion to award all three projects to Pike Industries.

The board discussed construction sequencing and contingency steps if crews encounter more extensive membrane damage while milling the bridge: one member urged adding a contract provision to pause and patch if the liner is exposed, and contractors present said they would stop work and notify the town if they reached the membrane. Staff said the bid timing and contractor calendar made fall work feasible before school traffic began. The board directed staff to finalize contract paperwork and proceed with the award.