Batavia OKs contracts for bridge reconstruction project
The City Council advanced the Donovan Bridge reconstruction project this week by approving two resolutions, one to hire Earth Tech Inc. for engineering services and the other giving the go-ahead to Transland Inc. to act as a community liaison for the project. Earth Tech will be paid $822,055 to oversee the actual construction of the downtown Donovan Bridge, tentatively set for March through November of 2007.
"They'll supervise the contractor, make sure the bridge is built right," said James Volk, chairman of City Services. "We've got the plans but now we've got to bring it all together."
The Earth Tech contract might need to be extended depending on final word from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and its current ban on river work from April 1 through June 15. The ban is designed to protect endangered fish including the red horse carp. But Batavia has filed paperwork to circumvent that ban by agreeing to take the steps necessary to protect the fish from entering the construction area.
"If we don't get the permit and we have to work into the second year, we will have to negotiate with Earth Tech and it could cost us more money," said Volk.
The council also agreed to pay $98,400 for Transland Inc. to respond to local comments, attend downtown community and city meetings, contact key businesses, keep abreast of the project schedule and make daily tours of the downtown area. Terrence Heffron of Transland performed a comparable function for the recent construction of the St. Charles bridge, said Volk.
The next step in the process is to hire a contractor to build the actual bridge. Volk said the city will be sending the bridge package out for bid this month.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $12 million to $13 million, of which the city will pay 20 percent. The remaining 80 percent will come from federal funding, said Volk. But that cost will rise should construction carry over into a second year.
"They'll supervise the contractor, make sure the bridge is built right," said James Volk, chairman of City Services. "We've got the plans but now we've got to bring it all together."
The Earth Tech contract might need to be extended depending on final word from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and its current ban on river work from April 1 through June 15. The ban is designed to protect endangered fish including the red horse carp. But Batavia has filed paperwork to circumvent that ban by agreeing to take the steps necessary to protect the fish from entering the construction area.
"If we don't get the permit and we have to work into the second year, we will have to negotiate with Earth Tech and it could cost us more money," said Volk.
The council also agreed to pay $98,400 for Transland Inc. to respond to local comments, attend downtown community and city meetings, contact key businesses, keep abreast of the project schedule and make daily tours of the downtown area. Terrence Heffron of Transland performed a comparable function for the recent construction of the St. Charles bridge, said Volk.
The next step in the process is to hire a contractor to build the actual bridge. Volk said the city will be sending the bridge package out for bid this month.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $12 million to $13 million, of which the city will pay 20 percent. The remaining 80 percent will come from federal funding, said Volk. But that cost will rise should construction carry over into a second year.
posted by Erebus at 5:15 PM
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