SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It was a tough day for Reno County Public Works when it came to bid opening for two major bridge projects Thursday.
According to Public Works Director Don Brittain, both the 43rd Avenue bridge and the Nickerson Road span over the Arkansas River came in well above the engineers' estimates.
The 43rd Avenue bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad came in nearly $1 million over estimate at $3,723,770. Brittain says the railroad requested the bridge be wide enough to accommodate a second track should it decide to build one and it needed complete erosion-proof banking. That combined with the challenges the bridge already presented with its proximity to Old K-61 Highway drove the price up.
The Nickerson Road bridge low bid was $2,997,840 — or about $311,000 over engineers' estimates. Brittain expressed his disappointment over the bids Thursday as the totals are more than $1.2 million over the bonded amount that was going to be used for the projects. Brittain said he can use other funds to get both projects completed. The replacement of both bridges is expected to start later this year. He said he will give a complete report to commissioners during their Tuesday meeting.