BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Joe's Bridge and Grading, Inc., of Poplar Bluff was the low bidder on two bridges that are to be replaced in Stoddard County. The Stoddard County Commission opened sealed bids from four contractors Monday morning at their regular meeting. The commission did not award a contract to give the engineers and the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to review the bids.
The commission chose to award the contract for both bridges as a single project. One bridge is on County Road 784 (LaValle Special Road District) and the other is on County Road 754 in Elk Township. Both bridges will replace bridges that were built in the 1920s. The CR 784 bridge is located near the Stoddard/New Madrid County line. The CR 754 bridge located just north of there in the eastern part of the county.
Joe's Bridge and Grading submitted a total bid of $498,534.50 for the two bridges. All of the four contractors submitted a bid for each bridge in their packets. Their bid included $268,098 for the CR 784 bridge and $230,436.50 for the CR 754 bridge.
Presiding Commissioner Greg Mathis explained that the commission was going to awarded one contract for the two bridges, so the low bidder would be determined by the total for both bridges. The contractors said they were aware of that.
In addition to Joe's Bridge and Grading, the following bids were opened by the commission (CR 784 first and CR 754 second, followed by the total.
Robertson Contractors, Inc. of Poplar Bluff -- $272,348.60 and $248,500.70 for at total of $520,849.30;
Robertson, Inc. of Poplar Bluff -- $274,201.25 and $242,693.25 for a total of $516,894.50; and
United Ironworker, Inc. of Steeleville, Ill. -- $293,387.30 and $266,703.70 for a total of $560,096.
Project Engineer Jeremy Manning with Smith and Company, Engineers, of Poplar Bluff looked over the bids to make sure the bid contained the bid bond, addendum and prerequisite documents. All of the bid packets did.
Manning was accompanied by Engineer Rick Prosser and Bill Robison, also with Smith and Company. Manning told the commission he would take the bids back to Smith and Company to review and make sure that met specifications. He said they would be sent to MoDOT for approval before the contract is awarded.
County Clerk Joe Watson asked if the bid specifications called for installation of drainage culverts as specified by the Little River Drainage District who had to sign off on the bridge replacements. Manning said it did.
The engineering fees are not included in the bids. Those will be paid by the county in addition to the contracted construction cost.
The new bridge on County Road 784 will be 60 feet in length and 24 feet wide. Funds for the project will come from the Off-System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program (BRO).
The new bridge on CR 754 will be 54 feet in length and 24 feet wide.