Commissioners OK bridge and sewer projects and bids

Lorain County commissioners on Wednesday approved a number of infrastructure improvement contracts and put out others to bid. The board awarded a nearly $604,000 contract to V.O. Menvez & Son of Millersburg for the Case Road bridge replacement project. The bridge crosses the Ridgeway Ditch in North Ridgeville, less than a mile north of Center Ridge Road. The company's bid was the best of four bids opened Feb. 15. Minor pavement and guardrail work is expected to begin on or about May 1 and to be completed by Aug. 31. The Ohio Department of Transportation is paying 100 percent of the cost up to $699,001 through the Ohio Bridge Partnership Program. Prime CM&S will be paid $69,477 for construction administration and inspection services. ODOT also will pay that cost. The city of North Ridgeville will provide some funding, according to the county. Kokosing Construction Co. of Elyria also was awarded a contract worth more than $547,216 to resurface a portion of Capel Road between state Route 57 and Durkee Road in Eaton Township, next to Midview High School. The bridge deck and concrete slab superstructure will be replaced, and 1 mile of Capel Road from Route 57 to Durkee Road will be paved. Traffic detours will be posted while the bridge deck is being replaced, according to the Lorain County Engineer's Office. Kokosing's bid was the best of four, with work scheduled to start June 1 and be completed by Sept. 30. The County Engineer's Association of Ohio will pay 80 percent of the costs of resurfacing, or $316,155, and the Ohio Public Works Commission the other 20 percent up to $115,825. The remaining $115,236 will be paid by the county. The county also will put the Pitts Road bridge project in Pittsfield Township out to bid, with bids to be opened April 12. The existing bridge will be removed and replaced with a 12-foot by 6-foot concrete box culvert. The estimated cost of the project is $227,500, to be paid by the OPWC and county engineer. Commissioner Matt Lundy noted that Lorain County has 236 structures that are considered bridges, according to the Lorain County Engineer's Office. The county also is seeking bids for phase 2 of the Boone Road sewer in Columbia Township. An estimated $1.9 million has been set aside to install 3,400 feet of 27-inch sanitary sewer on Boone from state Route 82 to Heatherstone Trail. Further improvements to the sanitary sewers along Boone and Snell roads are planned this year to accommodate additional housing being built by developers. In other construction matters, the county is advertising for bids for $260,000 worth of upgrades to the Veterans Service Office at 1230 N. Abbe Road in Elyria. A mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 10 a.m. March 29 at the site. Contact Dave O'Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com. Follow him on Twitter @daveobrienCT.