PORT TOWNSEND — City Manager David Timmons said the bidding window for the Upper Sims Way construction project has closed and the low bidder is a local company.
Seton Construction, located just south of Port Townsend on Discovery Road, came in with a bid of $2.6 million to complete a face-lift to the main road leading into Port Townsend.
The city budget for the project is $3.2 million, including $1.6 million in federal stimulus money.
Port Townsend City Council will consider approval of the bid at a regular business meeting. The City Council meets next on Monday.
It is unknown if the bid approval will be included on the agenda.
Timmons said the Seton Construction proposal looked likely to be chosen.
“The good news is that it’s a local company,” Timmons said.
“That’s a real plus for us, because it’s taking that federal money and bring it back to the city, for a city project with city workers.
“It’s really going to be put to good use.”
Bruce Seton Sr., owner of the construction company, declined to comment this week, saying he wanted to wait until the City Council officially selects his bid.
The Upper Sims Way project has been discussed as an active project for more than a year.
The renovation was originally left off the list of projects to receive funds from the federal stimulus package, but in June, the state held a second round of allocations using leftover stimulus money and elected to give the money to the city of Port Townsend to renovate and improve the main entrance to town.
Crews will install roundabouts at Sims Way’s intersections with Howard Street and Thomas Street as part of the project.
Also being added to the roadway is a barrier between the two directions of traffic, the elimination of a turning middle lane and sidewalk improvements along the roadway.
Work on the project is expected to begin in September and be finished no later than May 2010.
The project is one of six major construction projects the city will begin this year.
Along with improvements to Sims Way, multiple downtown streetscape improvements and renovation of the waterfront esplanade are all slated to begin by the end of this year.
The cost of all the projects is estimated at a little more than $12.5 million.
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
