CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Eight paving projects are among 14 projects included in a bid letting conducted by the West Virginia Division of Highways on Tuesday, July 12, 2022. The paving projects are part of an aggressive summer paving campaign being conducted by the WVDOH.
WVDOH is reviewing the bids and hopes to award contracts for these projects soon.
“Under Gov. Jim Justice’s leadership, we have seen an increased focus on resurfacing and paving,” said Joe Pack, P.E., WVDOH Chief of District Operations. “With money from the governor’s Roads to Prosperity program and other funding, we’ve been able to put together an aggressive paving plan.”
In the six years since Gov. Justice took office, the WVDOH has been able to pave 7,445 miles of West Virginia’s 27,700 miles of paved roads.
“If we can keep up that pace, it will make a huge difference in the condition of our highways,” Pack said.
So far this season, the WVDOH has paved almost 502 miles of roadway.
The July 12 bid letting included the following projects:
- Clifford Family Memorial Bridge replacement. (Greenbrier County)
- North Bend Rail Trail construction. (Harrison County
- Washington Street paving, Ravenswood. (Jackson County)
- Webster Road paving. (Nicholas County)
- Daniels Road paving. (Jefferson County
- WV 93 Scherr Overpass renovation. (Grant County)
- Bear Run to Ellenboro resurfacing. (Ritchie County)
- Ellenboro and other towns ADA ramps. (Calhoun and Ritchie counties)
- Micco to Rossmore resurfacing. (Logan County)
- Deerwalk Highway high friction pavement. (Wood County
- Peach Tree Orchard to Muddlety resurfacing. (Nicholas County)
- District 7 guardrail replacement.)
- Coaldale to Bramwell Road resurfacing. (Mercer County)
- Corridor G resurfacing, Davis Creek to Oakwood Road. (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.
