Tripp Road Construction Project

TRIPP ROAD PAVING, DRAINAGE, WATER, SANITARY SEWER AND AESTHETIC ENHANCEMENTS PROJECT

BACKGROUND:

A contract for the preparation of construction plans for Tripp Road (between Belt Line Road and N. Galloway Avenue) was approved at the January 3, 2005 City Council meeting. This section of roadway is currently a two-lane asphalt road with drainage ditches. The City thoroughfare plan calls for this portion of Tripp Road to be improved to a four-lane concrete section. The plans include an underground drainage system, bridge replacement, sidewalks, and water and sanitary sewer utility replacement. In addition the contract provides for a gateway feature at the Belt Line Road/Tripp Road intersection. This gateway would include landscaping, hardscaping, irrigation and accent lighting. Aesthetic enhancements will also be made at the Heatherdale and Brookhaven intersections. The replacement bridge for North Mesquite Creek near Belt Line Road will also have aesthetic enhancements to complement the gateway features.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

Bid notices were broadcast through the RFP Depot electronic bidding system and notices to local plan rooms. Seventy-Nine vendors downloaded the electronic advertisement and 46 contractors obtained bid documents from the Engineering Division. Six responsive bids were received and opened on January 11, 2007.  The bids ranged from a low bid of $9,437,231.25 submitted by Rebcon, Inc. to a high bid of $11,018,635.50 submitted by Texas Sterling Construction, LP. The bids were extremely close with the three low bidders within $48,000 of each other.

Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. reviewed the references and other qualification information submitted by Rebcon, Inc. and recommends award of the project to the low bidder. Staff concurs with this recommendation. Rebcon, Inc. has previously performed work satisfactorily for the City.

Funding for the Tripp Road project has been appropriated from the Mesquite Quality of Life Corporation (MQOLC) fiscal year 2004-05 and 2005-06 budgets. Bids were significantly higher than expected and staff had to identify funding that could be used to fund the shortfall. Additional sources of funding were identified by staff in unreserved water and sewer funds, contingency funds in the Edwards Church Road project and Lawson Road funding in the Mesquite Quality of Life Corporation (MQOLC) budget.

Construction is nearing completion with sidewalk, sod, and aesthetic features under construction. Estimated project completion date is late December 2008.

For questions concerning this project please contact the City Engineer – Matthew Holzapfel at 972-216-6353 or mholzapf@ci.mesquite.tx.us