News

Bid delay likely to push Ecusta Trail completion to next fall

By Bill Moss, Published: August 16, 2023

The need for round 2 of competitive bids for the first construction contract for the Ecusta Trail could push the greenway’s completion to the fall of 2024.

After just two contractors submitted prices at a bid opening on Aug. 7, county officials returned the bids unopened, as state law requires, and set about arranging a redo. County Engineer Marcus Jones and his staff contacted contractors that picked up bid packages but declined to bid.

“We have learned a lot in that process,” he said. “There’s still a possibility of having the base down and an improved surface before the end of the year.” But he added: “We are not dictating that you’ve got to have a base down by October. … We’re very focused on the schedule but we’re also focused on getting good value.”

Engineers are confident that the two bidders that bid the first time last Monday will bid again.

“We got two bids from two reputable bidders so we’re not that far off,” Jones said. “I have every reason to believe they will rebid. And on a rebid we can open them if there’s just one.”

An advertisement for bids published in this week’s Lightning sets a new bid opening at 2 p.m. Aug. 30. If county officials agree to the lowest price from a qualified bidder two weeks from now, the county and NCDOT would draft the contract. That would be ready on Oct. 11. “Substantial completion” date would be Sept. 30, 2024, with a final completion date of Oct. 21, 2024. A contractor that failed to make the deadline would be subject to fines for each day it was late.

The project is made up of grading, paving, drainage and bridge construction on the first 6.1 miles of the trail, from South Main Street to U.S. 64 at Horse Shoe.