CLAYTON — The lowest bidding contractor for reconstructing most of Riverside Drive and portions of James and Webb streets offered an estimated cost that fell below state officials’ budget.
Luck Bros. Inc., Plattsburgh, placed a bid for the historic district project, which will allow overhead cables to be replaced with underground ones, with an estimated cost of $9.3 million. The company’s first offer for undertaking the project in November had a projected cost exceeding the department’s budget, but DOT regional spokesman Michael R. Flick said in an email the new offer was below the $9.9 million in expected costs from department engineers. Village costs for the project could also decrease if the department gives the firm a contract, he said.
The village previously budgeted $3.31 million for workers to install a few new water and sewer lines and conduits and vaults beneath the streets so National Grid, Verizon, Spectrum and Westelcom could replace overhead cables with ones underground. Mayor Norma J. Zimmer, however, said costs are expected to drop almost $696,841.28.
“And that’s good news,” she said.
The department’s road construction will encompass much of Riverside Drive, the section of James Street between Riverside Drive and Mary Street and the section of Webb Street between Riverside Drive and Hugunin Street. Once workers complete the project, the DOT will transfer ownership of the three streets, which make up Route 970L, to the village.
The department previously planned to award the bid for the project in mid-June, but construction would not begin until after Labor Day. Roadwork for Riverside Drive, the portion of James Street between Riverside Drive and Hugunin Street has been scheduled for the 2020 construction season. The rest will be completed in the 2021 construction season.
The department rejected offers to rebuild the streets from four contractors, including Luck Bros., in December due to a lack of information, pricing issues and other unspecified project requirements.
