Politics & Government

Street Project Bids Come in $300K Below Expectations

Council accepted bids Tuesday for a project that also includes utility improvements and scaled-back sidewalk construction.

This year’s street and utility project will cost at least $300,000 less than planned because of bids that came in below expectations.

Council on Tuesday accepted a $1.8 million bid from Midwest Asphalt Corp. and ordered a hearing on proposed assessments for work on 14th Avenue and other streets in the northeast part of town.

The city won’t actually award the contract until May 17, the same day the assessment hearing is scheduled to take place.

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For now, though, the project remains as council inclined toward . would only be added to patch in gaps between sidewalk sections on the west side of 14th Avenue. The east side would have just enough sidewalk to connect to the nearby regional trail.

Because council hasn’t actually awarded the bid, it could still eliminate sidewalks or other portions of the project.

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That’s not outside the realm of possibility. On Tuesday, Councilman Rick Brausen again questioned whether the city should be funding sidewalks when economic times are tough and a comprehensive sidewalk plan hasn’t yet been developed.

Construction is scheduled to begin in June and finish in October. 


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