Iron Mountain firm is low bidder for runway project
Iron Mountain firm is low bidder for runway project Bids for the runway project at the Presque Isle County Airport in Rogers City were slightly above engineer estimates as Bacco Construction of Iron Mountain, as the low bidder, will be offered the construction contract when the federal funds are transfered to the state. The bid being 1.6 percent above the engineer
estimates was not a concern for Mary Ann Heidemann, Community Development Commission director, but the project won?t proceed until the transfer takes place. ?I wouldn?t want to sound bells of alarm, that?s not the kind of situation it is, but (the project) won?t move forward to sign a construction contract until they (the state) have the federal money.?
THE AIRPORT project will include extending and widening the runway, as well as improvements to the lightning system. The completion day is 60 days after construction begins.
?We had hoped that this construction would start in mid-May and be done before the (Nautical (Festival),? said Heidemann. ?We hope still that that can be the case, but at least, as of yesterday (Monday) when I talked to our project officer, the federal money hasn?t been transferred yet.?
?I wish our federal legislators would go ahead and do what they should do about our budget but I know they have many othe
WITH A BID of $1,086,991, Bacco Constriction Company was the low bidder by less than $300, beating out Bolen Asphalt Paving of East Tawas. ?I?m not personally familiar with the firm (Bacco) but my colleagues at the Department of Transportation are very familiar with the firm,? said Heidemann. ?It?s a good contractor that they work with frequently.? Letting of the bids was April 4, with four firms from around the state submitting prices for the project.
The highest bid was from Payne & Dolan of Gladstone, which was $44,000 higher than Bacco. The engineer estimate was $1,069,745.
Heidemann said ?A lot of work has been done. The project is on target. It is a huge step.?