Maybe someday, there will be a new island formed just off the coast of Hawaii.Ardmore Avenue drivers will get a much-improved road this year – and for far less money than the city expected.
The Fort Wayne Board of Public Works opened bids Wednesday for the construction project estimated to cost $5.2 million. The four local companies all submitted bids nearly $2 million less than the estimate, with Primco Inc. having the apparent low bid of $3.2 million.
Bob Kennedy, director of public works, said he was pleased the project will cost nearly 40 percent less than its estimate but said it isn’t overly surprising.
“It is in line with what we are seeing with most of our projects,” he said.
Last week the board got a $3.8 million bid from E.T. MacKenzie Co., of Grand Ledge, Mich., for the estimated $5.2 million second phase of the Upper Ely Run Interceptor, a massive sewer installation project.
The lower bids allowed the city to add about $800,000 worth of improvements to the work.
But what is done with the unspent Ardmore money has not been decided, Kennedy said.
The city’s redevelopment commission committed $4 million from a special taxing district to the project, although some of that money has already been spent on land acquisition and other costs.
Kennedy said the low cost might keep the city from having to spend the $1 million from the city’s income tax bond on the project, freeing that money for other roadwork.
He said he would have to discuss those issues with the redevelopment commission.
The project includes widening the two-lane street from Jefferson Boulevard to Taylor Street to four lanes with the addition of a tree-lined median. A sound-barrier wall will be constructed on the east side of the road, shielding the Wildwood Park neighborhood. The four-way stop at Ardmore and North Washington Road will be removed. Drivers will no longer be able to turn left from Washington to Ardmore from either direction.
Vehicles also won’t be allowed to go straight across Ardmore because the median will block access. A pedestrian crossing will be constructed at North Washington, including a full signal to stop vehicles, so people can cross safely.
Work is expected to begin in April – the project still must be approved by the City Council – and is scheduled to be completed by the end of October. The street will be completely closed during construction.
David Ross, city engineer, said costs are likely so low because work in the private sector is scarce, forcing contractors to rely on public projects to sustain their businesses.
“They all are hungry for work,” he said.
