Mount Prospect awards contract for flood relief
The Mount Prospect village board awarded the contract for Isabella area sewer improvements to ALamp Concrete Contractors Inc. of Schaumburg for an amount not to exceed $8.8 million.
The improvements were necessitated by the flood of 2011. They are part of an overall series of improvements, the first phase of which was done in 2013 at a cost of $2.5 million, funded by short-term debt.
Isabella Street represents the second and final phase. The work will involve constructing a relief sewer system, including the installation of approximately 6,600 linear feet of relief sewer to provide better flood protection for about 800 single-family homes in the oldest part of town.
The village board also approved a contract with Burns & McDonnell to provide construction engineering at a cost not to exceed $672,000. The Downers Grove firm has a long history of work for the village. Funding for the work will be provided by $10 million in general obligation bond debt.
Public Works Director Sean Dorsey said the work was slated to be done in 2014, but due to the harshness of last winter, the field work necessary to complete the design could not be conducted.
Dorsey said ALamp was the general contractor for a road resurfacing project in 2009.
Dorsey said there were some staff concerns about the firm's ability to complete the job, including the firm's lack of experience in installing 84-inch diameter pipe. The prices for some of the bid items was extremely low as well.
But after meeting with the firm to discuss those concerns, the village was confident it could perform the job.
There is a 10 percent contingency included in the cost, Dorsey said.
"This is a unique position to be in, where you have actually negotiated with somebody because you think their price is too low. Usually, it's the other way around," Trustee Michael Zadel said.
Dorsey said the work will involve crossing Rand Road, as well as work on Route 83. As a result, traffic will have to be rerouted when the project occurs.
"We will maintain traffic in both directions though," Dorsey said.
Dorsey said the project could begin as early as February and is expected to be concluded by November. It will involve work in the Menards parking lot, expanding a structure to accept a larger pipe.
Trustee A. John Korn noted that he is one of the residents who will be affected as the work will be in front of his house, denying him access to his garage.
The earlier work involved storm sewer improvements on SeeGwun Avenue, NaWaTa Avenue, Lawrence Lane, Hatlen Avenue, Hatlen Court, Busse Road, Michael Street, Verde Drive, Bonita Avenue and Audrey Lane. That project also included work in the Golfview Estates subdivision.