Contractor hired for township safety paths

Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously approved adopting the 2015 estimated contract from Italia Construction for the 2018 safety path contract at their meeting on Monday, April 9.

Italia has been awarded the contract to perform the construction and maintenance work for 13 of the 16 seasons there has been safety path construction.

Olivia Olsztyn-Budry, township director of engineering and environmental services, explained that at the October 23, 2017 trustees' board meeting, trustees had approved the 2018 routes and authorized the final designs for safety paths for the south side of Lincoln Road from Telegraph to Lahser Road; the east side of Telegraph from Maple to Quarton; and maintenance work at miscellaneous locations.

At that time a preliminary cost estimated for engineering and construction was $1.65 million.

“Design work begins after the board of trustees approves the contract,” Olsztyn-Budry said.

She said they were contacted by Italia Construction that they would honor their 2015 bid price for the 2018 work, or the township could publicly bid out the work, and it would be awarded in May or June.

“If we go with Italia, the estimated cost for construction and contingencies for the 2018 program, based on their 2015 bid is $1,179,072.74,” Olsztyn-Budry said. “From Hubbell, Roth & Clark (HRC, the township's engineering consultant), in the current bidding climate, the 2018 estimate for the work is $1,637,483.07.”

She said the township's budget for the project is $1.65 million.

With engineering costs included, Italia’s contract would come to approximately $1.4 million, and if it were bid out it would likely cost about $1.85 million, she said.

“Why is Italia willing to do that?” asked supervisor Leo Savoie.

A consultant from HRC responded that Italia wants to keep working with the township, and they received Birmingham's sidewalk contract in 2017. He said Italia's work has been very good.

“Why have an additional 40 percent? Let's continue Italia's pricing,” said trustee Neal Barnett.

Trustees concurred, voting 7-0 to approve the 2015 bid pricing and extending the 2018 safety path contract.