City accepts bid for water main project

The New Rockford City Commission accepted a bid from Dickinson-based BEK Consulting for the major water main replacement project slated to begin this summer.

The commission opened four bids between $5.56 million and $5.79 million on Monday, May 20. They then reconvened on Thursday, May 23 and selected BEK for the project, pending USDA-Rural Development approval of the $5.56 million bid. The other contractors who submitted bids include Hatton firm Naastad Brothers, Inc., who has worked on previous water main replacements in New Rockford, and two out of state firms, Wagner Construction of International Falls, Minn., and Carstensen Contracting of Dell Rapids, S.D.

All four bids came in below the $5.83 million that Interstate Engineering estimated for the project. The total budgeted for the work is $6.27 million, which Wade Senger of Interstate explained will allow for contingencies. Senger said he anticipates that there will be change orders needed because underground projects such as these have “unknowns” that are uncovered during the course of work.

The timeline for the project is somewhat delayed, however. While the commissioners had expected work to start almost immediately, BEK Consulting doesn’t plan to bring a crew on-site until mid-July due to other commitments this season. The contract does stipulate, however, that certain blocks need to be completed this year, including the water mains underneath the U.S. Hwy. 281 frontage roads. Major construction work there is slated to begin within two weeks. NDDOT will begin by repairing the main highway while traffic is diverted to the frontage roads. Then, in mid-July, the highway will reopen so work can begin on the frontage roads.

The contractor, city commission and Interstate Engineering will hold a pre-construction conference before work begins.  

The Transcript will publish regular updates of the progress to keep residents and visitors informed as the project is completed.