FROED One Government Center Fall River, MA 02722-7700 Tel 508-324-2620 Fax 508-677-2840 info@froed.org		GOING THE CHEAPER ROUTE Winning bid for interchange work $36M less than estimate The Herald News, Wednesday, October 28, 2009 - Page B1 FALL RIVER - MassHighway announced Tuesday that a Salisbury firm submitted the low bid for work on the much-anticipated Route 24 interchange project. SPS New England bid $33.6 million for the work, less than half the estimated $70 million pricetag. br> Three other firms also submitted bids on the contract, coming in betwen $43 million and $54.4 million. br> “Because this is a design-build project, bids came in lower than the office estimates of approximately $70 million,” said MassHighway spokesman Adam Hurtubise. “The economy also likely played a role in the lower bid prices. We’ve been seeing bids lower than the office estimates on a number of projects.” br> Hurtubise said a contract will be awarded once MassHighway verifies paperwork from the contractor. The state's transportation department expects to issue a notice to proceed early next month. br> Some work may begin before winter arrives, Hurtubise said, but the bulk of the work won’t begin until spring. The entire project is expected to take roughly 2 1/2 years to complete, with a target completion date of August 2012. br> The project will be funded entirely with federal money, mostly from the stimulus package, Hurtubise said. br> Roland Hebert, transportation planner for Southeastern New England’s Regional Planning and Economic Development District, said he was surprised by the low bid. Because of the stimulus requirements, the state must now find a way to spend $20 million to $30 million in excess funds. br> One of the strings attached to stimulus money was that funded projects must be ready to go to bid. That could put time constraints on the state as a February deadline to spend the cash looms. br> “It’s a little bonus money and I hope we can figure out where to spend it before the deadline. I’m not sure if it can stay in this area though,” Hebert said. “If we don’t spend it, we’re going to lose it.” br> The interchange is the state’s largest stimulus-funded project. A new interchange will be built on Route 24 between Exit 8 and Exit 9 to provide access to South Main Street in Freetown, the Riverfront Business Park and the proposed Southcoast BioPark in Fall River. br> Fall River Chamber President and CEO Robert Mellion said the interchange will help provide a much needed economic shot in the arm to the region. br> “The City of Fall River has been working very hard for many years to ensure that the Highway 24 interchange project is completed. It is great news to learn that a bid has been selected and approved by MassHighway, and that they will now hopefully move forward into the building stage,” said Mellion. br> “The construction of a new Highway 24 interchange is very important for Fall River’s long term economic development plans, because it connects downtown Fall River to the Industrial Park and will serve to provide added access to the new BioPark extension.” Back