Sentinel staff report–
Progress on the city’s plan for the second phase of revitalizing Auburn Boulevard have hit another bump in the road.
The Citrus Heights City Council on Thursday will consider a recommendation from the city’s General Services Director and City Engineer to reject all construction bids received for the second phase of the Auburn Boulevard Complete Streets project, due to the bids coming in at nearly $10 million more than the $25.5 million estimate from the city’s engineer. Bids range from $34.3 to $36.3 million, with the lowest bid coming in from Bay Cities Paving & Grading.
Plans for construction, which extend from Rusch Park to the Roseville border, include undergrounding of overhead utility lines, installation of bike lanes and wider sidewalks, upgrading signals, adding decorative street lighting, planting of new landscaping and trees, upgrading storm drains, roadway resurfacing, enhanced transit stops and a new gateway sign over the boulevard. Plans also show new center medians with designated turn lanes to be installed along most of the corridor, which have drawn controversy from business owners.
A staff report says the bids are believed to have come in high, due to the complexity of the project, noting the project includes a “high amount of utility and private property coordination, significant traffic control requirements and material supply chain impacts.” Staff recommend making adjustments to the proposed scope of work and then re-advertising for construction bids.
The project was anticipated to begin in 2021, but that date has been pushed back several times.
