Font ResizeHALIFAX -- The last of the bridges damaged during Tropical Storm Irene may soon be replaced as the Selectboard reviewed bids from various construction companies.
Renaud Brothers, of Vernon, proposed the lowest bid of $164,000 to replace the Hale Road Bridge, with others as high as $287,000.
In July, Renaud Brothers' bid of $402,535, for the Reed Hill Bridge replacement was approved, which may make the board's decision about the Hale Road Bridge easier.
The Halifax Selectboard has yet to make a final decision about which bid they'll select as each of the seven proposals is being reviewed by SVE Associates who were hired as consultants on each of the town's projects.
During last weeks Selectboard meeting, Joseph Tamburrino, the purchasing agent assigned to the bridge replacements, said that although the group from Cold River Bridges, of Walpole, N.H., wants to start working on the Deer Park Road Bridge as soon as possible, the town can't officially award them the contract until the state and FEMA approve the project.
Earlier this month Cold River Bridges' bid of $462,527 for the Deer Park Bridge came in at $50,000 less than any other company's, including Renaud Brothers, who proposed the cost to rebuild the bridge at $516,779.
The delays are a result of the project's designation as an "improved project" so that it meets the standards set by Vermont's Agency of Natural Resources.
Tamburrino suggested
He added that the amount of money saved in using a replacement bridge might not be worth the further delays and could end-up costing more if the town had to award the contact to a higher bidding contractor.
The board is expected to make a final decision about the Deer Park Bridge project within the next two weeks.
Also at the Selectboard meeting last week, Patricia Dow, the town's treasurer and town clerk, said enough money has been sent to the town to pay of the approximately $1.1 million line of credit, which was created to help pay for reconstruction projects after the historic rain and flooding from Tropical Storm Irene last August.
The board voted unanimously to make the payment. By doing so, Dow said the full line of credit will be available in needed for the numerous bridge projects and other construction.
Josh Stilts can be reached at jstilts@reformer.com, or 802-254-2311 ext. 273.
