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A project intended to protect southwest Fort Wayne residents from flooding will be delayed at least a month after construction prices were higher than expected.
The Fort Wayne Board of Public Works on Wednesday rejected all bids for the $3.2 million project just southeast of Foster Park. The proposal called for about 1,800 feet of earthen levees and 4,000 feet of flood walls to protect about 120 homes in the Woodhurst neighborhood. More than 100 homes there were flooded in 2003.
The lowest bid for the project, however, was 11 percent higher than the city’s estimate. Dave Ross, city engineer, said the price was deemed too high, and the city planned to re-examine the project to determine what could be cut to reduce costs.
“We think we can reduce the cost by re-evaluating some of the items in the project,” he said.
In 2003, when the St. Marys hit a record 19.66 feet in Fort Wayne, water spread four to five blocks east into Woodhurst. The levee project will protect that area.
Ross said the changes to the project wouldn’t reduce the size or length of the protection wall but would likely include changing the materials.
John Suarez, a board member, said he was concerned about having to rebid such a large project because the different contractors were able to see each other’s bids. Six companies bid with amounts ranging from $3.6 million to $4.9 million.
Gina Kostoff, board chairwoman, said that though that presented a difficult situation, trying to get new bids for the project was the best way to provide good value for the money.
“No matter what choice we make, we’re not going to make everybody happy,” she said.
The new bids are due Oct. 31, Ross said, which should delay the project about a month. It was supposed to be – and still should be – completed by next year.
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