Less than a month before construction on the 100 block of State Street begins, estimates for the street’s redesign will likely cost $1.5 million more than expected.
Monday the Madison Board of Estimates met and in a unanimous vote agreed to move forward and award Joe Daniels Construction the bid for State Street’s reconstruction project.
Tuesday the City Council will convene to vote upon the estimate, a bid that is 41 percent over the initial cost of construction.
“Hopefully the City Council will follow the advice [from the Board of Estimates] and award Joe Daniels Construction the contract,” City Council President Mike Verveer said.
However, under conditions of timeliness and access to businesses, the overall estimate for the project has increased dramatically.
Out of the two companies that bid on the project, Joe Daniels Construction submitted the lowest bid at $5.2 million. This cost is significantly higher than the initial estimate of $3.7 million, according to the Capital Times.
“Because of State Street’s uniqueness, this project came in with costs that are higher then expected,” Verveer said.
The first phase of the State Street Design Project is slated for completion Sept. 3, leaving a small window of time for construction to start and finish. The 100 block construction must be finished before the grand opening of the Overture Center in mid-September.
“The reality is the grand opening of the Overture Center has added to the costs,” Verveer said.
In addition to timeliness, business owners have expressed concern over construction because it may negatively affect sales in the competitive market on State Street.
The City Council has gone to great lengths to allow constant access to all businesses during construction, especially during the lunch hours and events such as Maxwell Street Days.
“Businesses cannot be shut down; there must be access,” Verveer said. “Whatever it takes, the contractor must allow access.”
Ald. Austin King, District 8, agreed the City Council “has literally bent over backwards to make sure there is access to sidewalks during construction and that the project gets done on time,” King said. “State Street, in itself, is a difficult project.”
The city council also has set the highest fines possible to penalize the contractor for each day construction is delayed.
On top of increased costs to complete the project on time and allow access to businesses, Verveer said the cost of underground utility work will be the most expensive phase.
“The utility maps we have are not very accurate or complete,” Verveer said. “There could be mass utility conflicts, which is problematic.”
The replacement of the old sewer systems and water mains on the 100 block may be challenging because of their 1911 installation and the installation of the water mains in 1882, according to the Capital Times.
Students agreed the reconstruction on State Street is necessary but the new estimates are disheartening. “It will affect a lot of students here,” UW freshman Brett Donnelly said. “Reconstruction seems like a good idea, but I don’t know if it is worth spending the extra money that could go towards other important issues over the next few years.”
Following Phase I, the design project will work in segments. The plan for State Street includes new concrete pavements, banners, lighting, bus shelters, sidewalks and kiosks, and will also feature art by local artists.
