The Chamber Daily

City of Birmingham seeks Request for Proposal (RFP) for 2018 reconstruction improvements to downtown core on Old Woodward Ave.

BIRMINGHAM, MI, November 8, 2017– The City of Birmingham has begun advertising for a Request for Proposal (RFP) for its planned 2018 reconstruction of Old Woodward Avenue between Brown and Oakland streets in the city’s downtown core.

The City is anticipating opening bids in December and is tentatively targeting January of 2018 to make a final recommendation on a contractor to the Birmingham City Commission. It is anticipated a contractor could start construction in the spring with an anticipated completion date of late summer.

“This is an ideal time of year to bid a project of this nature prior to the wave of construction industry bidding next January and February,” said Birmingham City Engineer Paul O’Meara. “We anticipate high interest in the contracting community to take on a job of this size and scope.”

The 2018 Old Woodward Reconstruction Project will result in significant improvements to below ground and above ground infrastructure on the city’s main downtown artery. Anticipated underground improvements include:

  • A new water main for improved flow of water while reducing the possibility of a water main breaks.
  • New combined sewers as well as improvements to existing sewers with the installation of new sewer linings.
  • New street lights and traffic signals.
  • New irrigation to enhance tree and landscape growth.
  • A separate electric system to enhance lighting options as well as conveniences such as mobile device charging stations.
  • Installation of a fiber optic system that will be available for future use by suppliers and provide flexible adaptation for future technologies while reducing the need for future digging.

In addition to the overdue underground improvements, the public will experience an array of above ground enhancements on Old Woodward. Among them are:

  • Wide mid-block crosswalks.
  • A planted median in the road way in selected areas.
  • Modernized sidewalks that will allow for improved handicap access.
  • And a host of other esthetic improvements to the Old Woodward corridor.

The RFP itself is peppered with incentives and penalties to bidding contractors, intended to help secure a contractor that will complete the project as fast as possible.

“The infrastructure in our downtown is among the oldest in the city,” said O’Meara, noting that some of the pipes date back to the late 1800’s.  “We recognize that this project will be painful in the short-term with the temporary construction disruptions, however, we believe that this necessary work will result in a better downtown core in the long run.”  

More information on the 2018 Old Woodward Reconstruction Project as well as future phases of the project can be found on the City’s website at:

http://www.bhamgov.org/government/departments/engineering/old_woodward_reconstruction.php

Share this post with friends: