Posted on February 7, 2019
It’s back to the drawing board again for the LST-325 relocation project after a series of bids come back over budget.
The Port Authority Board is hoping the third time will be the charm.
This is the second time bids have come back on this project, and the second time they’ve come in too high.
The Port Authority Board reviewed the bids at a meeting Monday afternoon.
The Visitor’s Center portion of the project actually came in below the estimate.
The dredging came in right around the estimate, but it was the barge that will hold the LST at its new location that came in over the estimate.
In fact, it was $560,000 dollars over the estimate.
So, the board voted to hold the Visitor’s Center and dredging bids, but voted to reject the barge bid.
LST officials say they are concerned, but optimistic things will work out.
“We’re not real surprised of this because people … there’s not a lot of barge builders in Evansville. And as far as these moorings, not a lot people do this kind of stuff, so we understand where is that the unknown prices.”
Deputy Mayor Steve Schaefer tells Eyewitness News, “We are still confident that the LST project will happen. Only one part of the three projects associated with the LST came in over budget. Once we get the barge component under budget we will move forward.”
The board will now re-bid the project, and go over those bids at their meeting next month.
Source: TriStateHomepage.com
