ASHLAND — A long-awaited repaving project on a section of Claremont Avenue might require drivers to wait a little longer, according to Ashland Mayor Matt Miller.
Depending on when the city advertises for a second round of bids, the project’s completion date could be pushed to November or sometime in 2023, Miller said.
The city advertised for bids on the project in March, which includes resurfacing the four-lane thoroughfare between Baney and Smith roads.
The mayor said the city received one bid, from Millersburg-based Shelly and Sands. But the paving contractor’s estimate for the project was “more than a $1 million over our estimate,” Miller said.
State law dictates governmental entities must accept bids that are no more than 10% over the entity’s original estimate.
Miller said the city’s estimate, prepared in February, for that project was $3.6 million.
The lion’s share of the project will be covered by state grants, making the city’s cost $1.4 million.
When the city went out to bid the project, the plan was to include new drainage, curbs, sidewalks in certain areas, new pavement and some portions of the road’s sub-base were to be replaced.
“One thing you have to consider, is that when we were preparing the bid specs for the project, we included a number of different alternates and pieces that don’t necessarily have to be included to resurface — but if the money was available, we’d do it all at once,” Miller said.
He said the piece that drove up the cost was the inclusion of rebuilding catch basins in that section of Claremont Avenue. When the city advertises again, possibly later this month, the mayor said the city will prepare a more conservative scope for the project to drive the price down.
He said Shelly and Sands has indicated it would be interested in bidding for the project again.
Miller said it takes around 30 days to get a new list of bidders to choose from.
“So it could be mid- to late-June when we get started. And that’s a big project and a big stretch,” he said.
When work does begin, the plan is to keep the road open, but to reduce traffic to one lane both ways.
