CHARLESTON — Contracts to install ADA-compliant curb cuts in 13 communities around West Virginia are among 14 projects included in a bid letting conducted by the West Virginia Division of Highways on Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
“This is the best of all worlds,” said Greg Bailey, P.E., WVDOH Chief Engineer of Operations. “We’re using federal dollars to meet federal mandates to provide needed access to people with disabilities.”
Under federal law, the WVDOH is required to put in ADA-compliant curb cuts any time they pave a road that is bordered by a sidewalk. By putting in the curb cuts first, paving contractors don’t have to worry about hiring someone to put in the ramps, and smaller contractors are able to get contracts to do the curb cuts. Bailey said the added efficiency has cut the cost of putting in ADA ramps by half.
Contracts let on June 14 include ADA ramps in 23 locations in Middlebourne and Centerville in Tyler County; 54 locations in the Cameron area in Marshall County; 163 locations in Harpers Ferry, Charles Town, and Ranson in Jefferson County; 49 locations in Parson, Davis, Thomas, Circleville, Franklin, and Brandywine in Tucker and Pendleton counties; and ADA ramps in Hundred in Wetzel County.
The WVDOH is reviewing the bids and hopes to award contracts for these projects soon.
The June 14 letting included the following projects:
- U.S. 19 four-lane upgrade, University Avenue (Monongalia County)
- Hundred ADA ramps (Wetzel County)
- Tyler County ADA ramps (Tyler County)
- Marshall County ADA ramps (Marshall County)
- Jefferson County ADA ramps (Jefferson County)
- Pendleton and Tucker County ADA ramps (Pendleton and Tucker County)
- Harrisville pedestrian and bicycle path (Ritchie County)
- Servia to Burnsville Road guardrail replacement (Braxton County)
- District 5 guardrail repairs
- District 9 guardrail repairs
- Walton high friction surface treatment paving (Roane County)
- Davis Creek to Oakwood paving (Kanawha County)
- District 3 guardrail repairs
- Park Place traffic signals, South Charleston (Kanawha County)
Several factors are considered before awarding a bid, including whether a bid falls above or below the WVDOH Engineer’s Estimate and by what percentage. In cases where a bid is above the Engineer’s Estimate, WVDOH must consider the project need, repercussions of not awarding the project, additional funding sources, and whether sufficient reasons exist for the differences in estimates. Most projects are reviewed, analyzed, and awarded within a week of the bid letting, but the process can take longer.
When the Division of Highways has a project that is determined to be best constructed by a contractor, it is processed through the bid letting system. A letting is a scheduled opportunity for contractors to review and bid on several construction projects at one time. Lettings are held either once or twice per month and conducted through the Bid Express System online at www.bidx.com and handled through the Contract Administration Division. Contractors need to subscribe to Bid Express before bids can be accepted on any project.
As the date and time approach the deadline of the letting, contractors are expected to place their bids, with complete documentation as necessary. Shortly after the letting, the respective bids are reviewed. All bids are evaluated thoroughly for competitiveness and deemed acceptable through guidelines as approved by policy, reviewed, and approved by the FHWA. Award of the contracts is made based on the recommendation by our Awards Committee based on the results that evaluation and approval by the Commissioner. Projects are typically awarded to the lowest bidder with all proper documentation in place.
